What happens to toners when they are sent for recycling?

Did you now that approximately 2 litres of petroleum can be used to create one brand new toner cartridge?  If you then throw your empty cartridge in the bin it will end up in landfill, where it’s estimated it will take between 450 and 1000 years to break down.

The responsible thing to do is not to throw your spent cartridge away but to send it back for recycling.  More and more of our customers are taking up this option and Scorpio provides a recycling scheme for anyone who uses our cartridges.  If you would like to find out more about the scheme, please call 01924 333 770 or email info@scorpio-uk.com.

So what happens when your used toner goes for recycling?  Firstly they are stripped down and cleaned.  Some of the parts can be reused to make new cartridges.  The rest are separated out into valuable materials.  Magnets remove stainless steel and ferrous (iron based) metals, and aluminum is extracted using eddie currents.  Plastic can be ground down into plastic chips which are then used as packaging material or re-melted into new plastic shapes, anything from pens to park benches.

There’s even a new type of asphalt being developed that uses toner powder extracted from used cartridges to improve road surfaces, so you could soon find yourself driving on toner based road.  Approximately 99% of the components in a toner cartridge can be re-used, so it is vital we keep them away from landfill.

The next question is, “Which type of toners should I use if I want to reduce my carbon footprint”?  ‘Drilled and Filled’ cartridges are the simplest way to recycle toners, which is good for the environment, but they can be unreliable and cause problems to your printer.  This is why, despite the environmental and cost advantages, Scorpio UK doesn’t sell them.  We know that our customers want to save money and reduce carbon footprint but NOT at the expense of the quality and functionality of the toner.

Instead, we look to high quality alternative toners which offer cost savings, environmental benefits but crucially, they work in your printer!  Hytec cartridges conform to ISO 14001 environmental standards and while they are brand new cartridges, they are made where possible with recycled materials.  However, Hytec do not compromise on quality and are a very different product to their ‘drilled and filled’ counterparts.  Instead they focus on nurturing a culture of environmental understanding through all stakeholders at levels of their business.  Their policies and operations are regularly assessed with a view to prevent pollution, reduce environmental impact and where possible, provide environmental benefit.

Crucially, these cartridges also have a returns rate of less than 0.05%.  They offer print quality to match, if not exceed the originals and they don’t break down.  If you want to help the environment but can’t afford to compromise on quality or price, this is the option we suggest.