One of the most powerful and important trends sweeping the globe is the “green” movement. People are realizing that the earth will not be able to sustain our growing population and the wasteful lives that many of its inhabitants are living, often completely unintentionally. Businesses and individuals who once cut corners and did ecological damage to our planet are now realizing the error of their ways and taking steps to cut down on their environmental impact in order to achieve a more sustainable world. One very easy way that just about anyone can help achieve this goal and become more “green” is by taking proper care of used Canon ink and HP 1200 toner cartridges.

Why is this important? Do toner recycling programs seem irrelevant in the grand scheme of our entire planet? The answer to that question is an overwhelming “no.” Over one billion, one hundred million inkjet and toner cartridges are used every single year throughout the world. That is roughly one printer product per six people. If these were all laid out in a line end-to-end it would be longer than the Great Wall of China. In fact, it would be one hundred twenty-nine times as long as the world’s most famous wall.

Unfortunately, a vast majority of these are thrown away (over seventy percent). This is terrible for multiple reasons. Each laser toner cartridge thrown into a landfill will add an average of three pounds to the world’s growing waste problems. Multiply that by how many are thrown away each year, and it becomes readily apparent what an effect this single industry can have on the entire earth’s environment. In the United Kingdom alone, more than thirty million of these cartridges are disposed of every year—that is the weight of eighteen blue whales. If this behavior continues, those whales may become nothing more than a memory.

Luckily, there is an easy fix to this horrible problem. As mentioned above, recycling programs can have a hugely beneficial impact on the environment and therefore every living creature on earth. Enough oil is used in the manufacturing of the average laser toner cartridge to drive a hybrid car over fifty miles, so consider recycling that Epson or Brother toner cartridge next time it runs out. Not only will the blue whales be grateful, it will benefit everyone in the world. And in the end, who doesn’t want to do their part to help save the earth?

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