Fact: Only About 52% of Laser Printer Users know that Toner Refill Kits Exist!

This is the sad state of our printing industry since nobody really cares about the plight of empty toner cartridges. Research points out that around 165 million toner cartridges were saved from landfills, but still the bulk of 700 million cartridges end up ditched into dumpsites and landfills worldwide, and the figure is to likely increase by12% annually. With each cartridge weighing around 1.5 kilograms on the average, this translates to e-garbage equivalent to around 825,000 F430 GT3 Ferrari Sports Cars in weight alone. Incessant dumping proliferated because not all laser printer users have been duly informed about the availability of compatibles in the aftermarket or the operation of recycling centers in our country.

Konica Minolta is aware of its social responsibility and thus designed its replacement cartridges to be refill friendly; thereby extending the lifecycle of each cartridge to at least 3 refills. At the end of the serviceable life of each cartridge, Konica Minolta’s ‘Clean Planet’ program entices its customer base to return used toner cartridges for recycling through parcel services, free of charge. Programs such as ‘Clean Planet” will help decongest our dumpsites, landfills and incinerators from tons and tons of e-garbage.

Recycling not only involves the return of empty toner cartridges to printer manufacturers. The use of toner refill kits to refill used or empty toner cartridges is one form of recycling. Refills can be administered over empty Konica Minolta toner cartridges such as the 1710517-005; allowing the user to save in the process. An OEM toner cartridge for the QMS 2300DL laser printer retails at around $120 and yields some 4,500 pages at 5% coverage, while the equivalent Konica Minolta 2300 toner refill kit is sold online for only $22.00. Since both toner products exhibit similar characteristics, expect print quality and yield performance for both OEM and compatible toner to be similar as well. Most likely, the only factor making customers hesitant from using toner refill kits is the perception that the refill process is difficult. Well, browsing the illustrated instructional material would tell you that refilling an empty cartridge is so easy that it can be completed from between 5 to 10 minutes.

Even though only 52% of laser printer users are aware of the presence of toner refill kits as an aftermarket replacement consumable, this figure will surely continue to rise as consumers will begin to appreciate its benefits.

Xerox Green World Alliance - Where Used Xerox Toner Cartridges Should End Up!

Xerox not only gave the world a glimpse of the first laser printer, but also invoked socio-environmental responsibility through its recycling program called the Xerox Green World Alliance. Decades after the first laser printer came out, tons and tons of empty toner cartridges have now found its way into landfills; excreting leachage that contaminates underground water and waterways. Moreover, the volume of greenhouses gases pumped into the atmosphere through its production should not be discounted. Laser printers may have helped us accomplish our printing needs, but it has also left a trail of e-garbage that could decompose in 450 years if unattended in dumpsites.

The Xerox Green World Alliance is one such program launched by Xerox that aims to help conserve our rapidly vanishing reserves and likewise limit the influx of environmental pollutants by recycling empty OEM toner cartridges. In the United States alone, over 110 million toner cartridges are disposed annually.If piled vertically, its height and bulk could equal the 110 floors Sears Tower. Consequently, around $15 billion is required to manufacture these cartridges - that is by the way, 10 times the construction cost of the Sears Tower.

How does the Xerox Green World Alliance operate its recycling program? Xerox Corporation inked a partnership with logistics giant UPS. Through the transport facilities of UPS, empty toner cartridges accumulated in UPS pickup points are fetched and ferried to the recycling plants of Xerox Corporation. The process relevant to individual cartridge returns is itemized as follows:

1. Consumers who wish to avail of the Xerox Recycling program can log on to Xerox's website and print pre-paid UPS shipping labels that are uniquely bar-coded (maximum of 15 at a time) for each pack intended for return.
2. Pack the used toner cartridge using the same packaging or carton from which the item came in and affix the shipping label - one label for each package. Each printed label contains a foolproof tracking number and bar code. Use of photocopied or reproduced shipping label is not advised.
3. Hand in your packed item to the UPS representative once your new consumable purchase is delivered. Individual returns can also be dropped off at UPS pick-up points or outlets. Pick up is encouraged by calling1-800-PICK-UPS (742-5877) or transacting online at www.ups.com - indicating the package as an ‘ARS Return Shipment.’

Xerox now makes recycling more convenient to its consumers through in-house recycling services that drastically cuts down office and household printing waste and in the process help save the environment.


We should not always rely on Xerox Corporation for the recycling of unused toner cartridges. Do-it-yourself projects such as refilling empty toner cartridges with compatible toner refill kits is a simple act of recycling that is of tremendous help to global conservation efforts.

HP Planet Partners - Extensive Recycling Options for HP Cartridge Users

Try to get hold of a used, toner-empty OEM toner cartridge and you will likely conclude that given the proper care and attention, the cartridge unit can last forever. The plastic carcass of the cartridge is designed as such to survive any form of mishandling; unless of course if deliberately whacked with a hammer. But then again, printer manufacturers installed inferior imaging components into the system to render the cartridge good for a single printing cycle only; or perhaps just until the accompanying toner runs dry. Even then, third party manufacturers have devised methods to extend the life cycle of toner cartridges for up to 3 or 4 times through the development and distribution of compatible toner refill kits.

Now that conservation efforts are spreading worldwide like wild fire, leading printer manufacturer Hewlett Packard is spearheading the recall of majority of used hardware and accessories (particularly toner cartridges) to HP's state-of-the-art recycling. This is to make sure that said electronic devices are recycled responsibly. Through HP Planet Partners, empty HP toner cartridges can be returned for recycling through the following options:

Inspect the packaging of genuine HP LaserJet cartridges (only for recyclable cartridges) for prepaid return labels that can be used to return such cartridges to HP once it dries up.

As part of HP Planet Partners program, used HP toner cartridges can also be returned via HP's sanctioned recycling outlets that serve as collection points for used consumables. This is in addition to several recycling options now in operation.

As majority of HP consumers bring along their empty toner cartridges when purchasing a replacement, in-store recycling options is now offered at retail locations such as Staples. HP's retail recycling program is intended to provide additional free and convenient return options to its customers.

HP and Staples are now giving customers ‘Staples Rewards’ of $3 for each toner cartridge recycled. And as the 12th America Recycles Day approaches, additional incentives and cash rewards await consumers who patronize HP's in-house recycling option.

For free, postage paid-return options including return envelopes, bulk collection boxes and printable labels for all HP LaserJet toner cartridges, consumers are advised to visit www.hp.com/recycle for more details.

Since the inception of HP Planet Partners, HP has achieved a milestone in corporate responsibility through the recycling of more than 250 million print cartridges worldwide. Today HP’s recycling program is existing and operational in over 47 countries, regions and territories around the globe. And in anticipation of increased recycling response from consumers, HP is expanding its North American cartridge recycling facility to over 7,500 square meters to improve its efficiency and productivity.

The Many Benefits of Toner Cartridge Recycling Programs

Why is there a need to recycle empty toner cartridges? Oil based polymers are used in the manufacture of its plastic casing and recycling can help conserve the finite supply of fossil fuels.

The present worldwide production of petroleum-based plastic is pegged at 100 million tons annually. At this rate, manufacturing plants use around 7 million barrels of petroleum per day to sustain production volume. Petrol consumption represents 8% of global supply and with reserves gradually dwindling, remaining fuel resources could only last us decades.

Recycling is in line with global conservation efforts. A reduction in the volume of toner cartridges disposed would temporarily clear landfills. Consequently, reusing cartridges would result in the reduced consumption of petrol as a cutback in manufacturing volume for new cartridges is imminent. Until a biodegradable polymer casing (made from organic materials) can be developed for toner cartridges; then recycling for the moment will suffice.


Recycling extends the lifespan of printer consumables. Projects involving the recycle of laser printer consumables is not limited to the refill of empty toner cartridges with fresh toner supply. A used and worn out cartridge can be carefully dismantled where worn out components are replaced with new imaging parts while serviceable components are retained. Fresh toner powder is transferred to the toner chamber thereafter prior to reassembly. Remanufactured toner cartridges are typically distributed by third party manufacturers or if you have the technical expertise, you can in fact remanufacture the cartridge yourself and use it for another printing cycle instead of dumping it immediately with neighborhood trash.

Recycling rallies manufacturers and individuals towards a common cause. Printer manufacturers have organized recycling services that allow customers to trade in, donate or return used computers, PC components, printers and related consumables in the case of Hewlett Packard while Xerox encourages the bulk return of used consumables under its Green World Alliance Program. Meanwhile, recycling companies such as LaserCare of Los Angeles have been recognized lately for the gains of its cartridge recovery programs; particularly for the recycling of over 300,000 laser printer toner cartridges. Said volume would have occupied at least 75,000 cubic feet of landfill space.

Recycling creates new jobs. These conservation efforts not only satisfy thousands of laser printer users but likewise create dozens of local manufacturing jobs to a workforce derailed by our ailing economy. This proves further that environment-friendly programs can likewise promote the upkeep of local businesses.

Recycling efforts are now running in high gear with a number of OEM's now stamping toner cartridges with return seals. But for empty OEM toner cartridges that only need a toner refill to work again, use a compatible toner refill kit to replenish its toner supply and remember that a cartridge can sustain three refills and print cycles.

Recycle + Reuse - It's What Every Laser Printer User Should Practice!

The rapid accumulation of garbage over landfills and excessive production of harmful gasses into the Earth’s atmosphere has led millions of Americans to support recycling programs from reprocessing paper, reusing empty plastic containers down to salvaging home products that are still useful. This positive reaction towards recycling has encouraged people to come up with methods that will further reduce the aggravation of the Earth's natural resources. One of which is recycling empty toner cartridges by reloading its toner supply.
Why recycle a toner cartridge? The manufacturing and distribution of toner cartridges exhaust a significant amount of finite resources and likewise carries with it a negative impact to the environment as the burn of fossil fuels releases tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Hence when users return empty toner cartridges to OEMs or dispose them through third parties for remanufacturing; its ill effects to the environment are considerably minimized since its non-biodegradable components end up being recycled - instead of getting dumped in landfills; while energy spent in the production of new cartridge units are moderated.

Why reuse a toner cartridge?
It is common knowledge that the lifespan of a cartridge is dependent on the volume of toner supplied. Thus when the cartridge is out of toner, it is considered unserviceable to immediately find its way into the nearest trash bin. But what most of us do not know is that the cartridge is still functional; provided that a fresh supply of compatible toner is loaded since all of its parts have been manufactured to surpass a single life cycle. As recommended, toner cartridges can be reused and refilled for 2 to 3 times before print defects will begin to materialize.

When the cartridge is regarded empty or when the monitor prompts that the cartridge is out of toner, a compatible toner refill kit is used to recharge the cartridge's toner supply. Retailed online by third party manufacturers and their resellers, toner refill kits are cheaper by more or less 50% than the price of OEM cartridges. To illustrate, the OEM Q6000A cartridge which loads the HP 2600 laser printer is retailed at $75 while the HP 2600 toner refill kit sells for only $30.

Once the refill kit is on hand, users must perform the procedures outlined on the instructional manual. In concept, users will be asked to open or create a fill hole, transfer toner to the toner chamber, and seal the fill hole. This will take approximately 5 to 10 minutes to accomplish.

User Benefits of reusing a toner cartridge.
It is very practical to reuse cartridges with toner refill kits because other than providing cost-benefits; printer performance is sustained to therefore generate OEM standard printouts and yield. With the abovementioned printer and cartridge unit; high quality output and yield of around 2,500 pages at 5% coverage can still be achieved.

Recycling cartridges with toner refill kits is indeed one form of stewardship to the the environment. In return, it provides great user benefits including laser printing savings as well as OEM quality prints and yield.

Go Green with Toner Refill Kits!

Toner refill kit manufacturers have only one aim in mind – to help countless laser printer users cope with the burgeoning office and household printing costs. Through the years, third party manufacturers envisioned how the business of refilling empty toner cartridges could directly help the environment by reducing in part the over 1million pounds of trash pumped into dumpsites and landfills annually while conserving as much as 2 million quartz of oil. Know that around 3.5 quartz of oil is required to manufacture a single cartridge. Ridding the earth of its e-garbage trash is a gargantuan task that requires personal commitment and the collective efforts of electronic equipment and accessories users.

The world's annual e-garbage volume - if it can be literally converted into cubes; then the pile of trash would likely equal the height of the now defunct WTC twin towers; but then still taller by over 110 floors. Now consider the $150 million development cost for the twin towers and that amount is only about 10% of the total annual expenditure for toner cartridges. In effect, if we patronize refills for empty OEM toner cartridges, we not only help the environment and collaborate with global conservation efforts; but also generate savings of as much as 80% over the cost of OEM retail cartridges.

The most effective method of recycling empty OEM toner cartridges is still through the use of a compatible toner refill kit. Just a single refill effort on an empty cartridge will nominally help reduce the pile of e-garbage to as much as 35% on the amount of trash dumped into our ever shrinking global garbage disposal facility. Note that over 110 million toner cartridges are dumped annually on the average. Consequently, a 35% reduction in e-garbage disposal would likely result to a summary reduction in the manufacture of cartridges (of the same rate) as well.

As Americans it becomes our social duty to lead others and show our concern for the environment. Let us not leave a legacy of uncontrolled trash to the generations after us. Recycle now and reload empty toner cartridges with toner refill kits!