Think about the fact that in 2012 around 1,8 billion print cartridges may have been dumped in landfills and be supplemented by a further 350 million each year, and you have some picture of the usage element of cartridges in addition to the environmental problem they produce. Cartridges are projected to take up to from four hundred and fifty to one thousand years to decompose. These little beasts also induce several other environmental difficulties in their manufacturing, like creating the emission of 4,8 kg’s CO2 per cartridge. Yet another 3,2 Kg’s of CO2 is produced by the toner within the cartridge for the lifespan of the toner.

To try and counter this happening, the USA and Europe have began with the introduction of guidelines to encourage the recycling of cartridges. This isn’t entirely great news for the suppliers of cartridges, as they clearly will lose out on the sale of new cartridges. Some producers in fact make it difficult for the re-filling and recycling of their cartridges, by adding a chip that cannot be reset for further use. In contrast somebody that could remove this chip on a specific manufacturers’ cartridge, discovered he could print up to 38% more than what the chip intact would allow. So, in effect this supplier was denying the user the usage of 38% worth of ink thereby forcing acquiring new cartridges.

An ink cartridge is a changeable aspect of an ink jet printer. The cartridge includes the ink and in some cases the print head. The cost of such cartridges (mostly 2 per printer for black and white and colour printing) are pretty expensive and in some silly cases it is less pricey to buy a new computer printer than replace the cartridges. Cartridges of numerous manufacturers can’t be interchanged because of different design features and various electrics. Often when a printer uses 2 cartridges, the black and white cartridge won’t work if the colour cartridge is empty forcing the replacing of colour cartridges.

Despite all these tricks by the original suppliers, there are ways to save money on replacement cartridges. Firstly, check around for “compatibles” at +- 30-40% discount, which are mostly originally manufactured cartridges by alternative producers, or secondly have your original ink cartridges filled by one of the shops that sell compatibles. Provided your printer ink cartridges are in excellent condition and have not been refilled more than 3 times, such transaction will save you an astonishing 50-70% discount compared to a new branded ink cartridge. Some retailers in addition provide so called “re-manufactured” ink cartridges, but those are no more than re-filled and cleaned up cartridges. Another (perhaps not too good an option) is to fill up your own cartridges, but this in practise has proofed not to be such a wise decision as it is sloppy and the results often less than adequate.

It’s not always noticed by the client but printing is an expensive part of computing, in particular for those people who get involved in photo printing or other forms of technical printing. It is smart to explore alternatives to save on printing costs.

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