http://www.recycle.co.uk/news/672000.html
Recycling Cartridges May Not be Enough
Ever
since the first ink cartridges hit the market, consumers have been
complaining of high cost and the waste that comes along with what seems
to be an excessive amount of packaging.Ink jet recycling companies such
as emptycartridge.co.uk, The Cartridge Family and InkJetCartridge
Recycling have made great strides in encouraging consumers to recycle
their used cartridges which reduce the amount of waste that formerly
clogged landfills worldwide.It’s common knowledge that paper and
plastic have been the biggest contributors to recycling programs due to
environmental laws. One thing that many people don’t realize is that
the recycling of plastic is quite an expensive process. Because of the
expense, many recyclable plastics are shipped to less expensive
facilities in Asian countries such as Vietnam and China where prices
are lower and environmental laws aren’t as stringent. Out of the 90
million kilograms of recyclable plastic collected in the UK, nearly 75
percent was shipped to China for processing.

The reasoning for
recycling is still sound and the system has improved dramatically
through the use of environmentally friendly inks. The advent of soy and
vinegar inks has contributed a great deal to the reduction of waste
created by the recycling process. In short, the new environmentally
friendly inks aren’t damaging to the planet and the adherence to the
plastic doesn’t create excessive waste. These inks also apply to paper,
as well. Previously, much of the paper discarded couldn’t be
effectively recycled due to the amount of chemicals injected into the
paper fibers. These newer inks also eliminate a great deal of paper
waste.These inks and the overall reduction of waste have allowed
companies to compensate recyclers for their efforts. The next time you
think about tossing that old cartridge, think again.