If you do a lot of printing, faxing or copying, you probably toss out several toner cartridges a year. You're not the only one. My Office Portal.org estimates that Americans throw away toner and and ink 500 times each minute. All that ink has turned into an environmental problem. Toner cartridges that still contain ink are considered chemical waste and must be disposed of properly to avoid contaminating the soil and water near your landfill. Throwing chemical waste into the trash not only hurts the environment, but can subject you to fines and penalties depending on your state's regulations.
Step 1
Remove your toner cartridge without spilling the remaining ink. Place it in a designated chemical waste bag as provided by your company. Place it in a leak-proof plastic bag if you're changing toner at home.
Step 2
Check the packaging for your replacement toner. Look for specific manufacturer's instructions for disposing your old toner. Some manufacturers prefer you mail used toner cartridges back to them for recycling or proper disposal and provide packaging materials.
Step 3
Ask the technician who services your office equipment or the facilities manager of your company if there's a specific program in place for toner recycling or disposal of chemical waste. If so, develop a disposal plan that will utilize your company's protocols.
Step 4
Contact your city's department of waste management to determine drop-off points for hazardous chemical waste. Drop off your toner cartridge so it can be recycled or safely destroyed.
Step 5
Contact your office supply store and ask them if they accept toner cartridges. Many office supply stores have recycling programs or refill and resell cartridges themselves. If they can't reuse or recycle your toner, they'll dispose of it according to your state's safety guidelines.
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