How to Recycle Empty Toner Cartridges?

In the intent of recycling or reusing empty toner cartridges, the printer user has 2 options. Recycle by either returning the empty consumables to the printer manufacturer or personally instituting refills on cartridges with the use of compatible toner refill kits.

Option #1. Return the cartridge to the printer manufacturer

Toner cartridges are manufactured almost entirely out of polymers or plastic. Containing only small amounts of metal and other components, the empty cartridges are often rejected in many recycling facilities. Thus, most (if not all) print manufacturers have became committed to accepting, reusing, and recycling empty cartridges through establishing recycling programs.

To recycle toner cartridges by returning to printer manufacturers, users are usually advised to do the following:

1. Stuff empty consumable inside its original packaging or the box by which the replacement cartridge was shipped in. Additionally, the cartridge should be sealed inside the accompanying plastic bag.
2.  If possible, wrap some newspaper around the cartridge before packing to avoid any instance of damage while in transit.
3. Send the packed cartridge through the local Post Office. There may be additional instructions that printer users must do, so it is best to visit the manufacturer’s site for guidelines. Also, check whether the manufacturer or the user will shoulder the return fee. But normally printer manufacturers do not include a free return label on its packaging so that related courier fees are shouldered by the user in the delivery of empty print cartridges to the OEM's recycling facilities.

Option #2. Refilling toner cartridges with toner refill kits

Owing to the high cost of OEM toner cartridges, many users endeavor the refill of empty consumables with compatible toner powder. Typically, a compatible toner refill kit designed to refill cartridges are retailed at least 40% less than the OEM counterpart. Despite the huge price difference, OEM print quality and yield is sustained by the compatible toner equivalent. The more cost effective option therefore is to recycle toner cartridges by refilling its empties. The procedure pertinent to the refill is outlined below.

1. Unload the empty cartridge from the laser printer and pluck out the toner plug. Use a small flathead screwdriver or in the absence of one, the thumbnail will do. When a toner plug cannot be found, printer users will need to create a fill hole. Refer to instructional guidelines included in the refill kit. 
2. Position the cartridge with the fill hole turned over a plastic sheet lined trashcan to dump old toner from the cartridge.
3. Shake the bottle of compatible toner to loosen clumped toner particles.
4. Open the bottle of toner, screw on tightly the supplied funnel cap and slowly transfer toner into the toner chamber through the fill hole.
5. Following transfer of toner powder, reseal the fill hole using the toner plug.
6. Shake the cartridge slightly to distribute toner evenly inside the cartridge before reloading it back into the printer and commencing with print jobs.

The whole refill process is really easy and a compatible toner refill kit is bundled with how to refill toner instructional manual as added convenience to first time users.