Keeping your old laser printer out of the landfill is an excellent idea. The lasers and components that they are made from are manufactured with chemicals like mercury and arsenic that will leech into the ground for dozens of years to come, and potentially enter our water system. For this reason, it’s extremely important that you figure out how to recycle a printer, and it’s not as hard as you might think!
Laser printer recycling takes a few different forms. The most common is to just drop it off at an electronics waste recycling center. Most of the time they will take it for you, and you never have to think about it again. Some of these centers will charge you a small fee for them to take it, while others will pay you a few bucks. Their plan for your old electronics will determine which way. Most large cities will have multiple e-waste recyclers, so you can find the one that works best for you.
You can also send some printers back to their manufacturer for recycling. HP takes back all of their printers, and in most cases they will foot the shipping bill. For newer printers that are still in good condition, they will also pay you a few bucks for them.
The best way to recycle your laser printer is to donate it to someone that is going to get some use out of it. Grandmas, little sisters, and the neighbor kid are great receivers of your old printer. You may have to put in a new cartridge and install it for them, but you know that you are really helping someone out by doing this. Also, schools, libraries, and local charities will also take these off of your hands.
Recycling your laser printer is easy, just figure out which way you want to do it. Start by seeing if someone close to you can use it, then look for standard ways to recycle it.
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