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Ink Cartridges - Do You Use Recycled Ones?

This post was inspired by Kathleen Elim's post on 2/26/08 NEW Ink Cartridges Need a Home. I purchase my printer cartridges at Cartridge World here in Las Vegas. They are recycled cartridges. After googling Cartridge World I find that they are located all over the U.S., with more than 600 stores and still growing. There are three of them located in the Las Vegas area.

Cartridge World takes your used cartridges in exchange for giving you a reduced price on a recycled cartridge. They also sponsor fund-raising through the schools...you donate your old cartridges to the schools that are collecting them and Cartridge World in turn donates money to the school for each one turned in.

I have only had one problem with cartridges purchased this way and Cartridge World replaced it with no questions.

Kathleen's question on her post though was what to do when you've bought a new printer and it does not use the same cartridges? What do you do with the cartridges made for the old printer, they are brand new? It's a shame to just toss them. I think places like Cartridge World might exchange them out, although I did not check on this. I did spend a little time today calling some of the non-profit organizations in town...what I found out was each place has different printers at any given time. So my suggestion is rather than just tossing them is to try and donate them maybe by using Craig's List in your area, or just call some non-profit organizations and maybe you can find one that have printers that are compatable with your old ink cartridges.

Just one more suggestion to help save the environment and 'go green'.

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Posted by Mary Warren on 02/27/2008 10:53 PM

Comments (27)

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Originally posted at: : Ink Cartridges - Do You Use Recycled Ones?

This post has been included in Nevada Information Clark County, NV Information Las Vegas, NV Information

27 Comments on Ink Cartridges - Do You Use Recycled Ones?

FEB

2008

I have them recycled at Walgreens...they work great!

Thanks for reminding me, I am going tommrow to the refill shop down the street to save some money!

Mary - I use the refills at Cartridge World right up the street, however, my Canon printer has a micro chip on it and it shows the cartridge being empty. My other printers work well.

Mary,

Wouldn't it be a better world if all printers took the same cartridges...by now, you'd think they'd know which technology is optimal and 'run with it'??? Thanks, Fran

I have the best luck with new brand name cartridges. Maybe it's time I tried refilling them again. My last experience, many years ago, was a disaster.

I have a cannon printer and cartridge world was introduced by my lender to save on my printing. I love them!

Elaine - I've heard Walgreen's does this but have never tried them. Will have to give them a try sometime.

Larry - saving money is GOOD! Recycling is awesome. I recycle most everything I can!

Candy - thanks for your reply. I have an HP and it always says I'm out of ink too...I keep extra cartridges on hand just in case I really do run out of ink!

Fran - that's a GREAT idea - In the past I've ended up tossing so many cartridges when I buy new. It could be done but why would these places do it? What's in it for them?

What a great post, I aways buy new, something to consider. Great Post, Thanks

Wayne - try again, things have changed in the last few years - I tried it too many years ago and went back to new but now it works great

Tom - Glad you like them - I found them accidently about a year or year and a half ago and have never looked back!

It is kind of messy if I don't pay attention while doing it, but you can buy kits that let you refill your own cartridges a couple of times. Just use the tool included to drill a hole, squirt the ink in and seal with a tape dot. Not all the refill shops or Walgreens will do anything but HP or Lexmark. I have a Brother and this does a great job. Wear gloves unless you want funky spotted fingers!

Ken - give it a try, saves a ton of $$$$, I think you will love them

Kent - I tried that many years ago and swore NEVER again - WHAT A MESS :)

Mary, thanks a lot! Two OEM cartridges cost more than the printer. I'm going to check them out tomorrow.

Mary~This is wonderful! Cartridge World is also located out here so thanks to you I will be making some changes.

FEB

2008

Kevin - my cartridges were costing more than the printer until I found this place! I pay $12.99 for black cartridges for an HP Officejet...I think they are normally $25 or more at costco and other discount places.

Julie - It amazes me how big Cartridge World is across the U.S. I thought it was a little 'mom & pop store' until I started do the research on it. Glad you have one close by, I almost guarantee you won't be unhappy!

Mary - I checked out their website and there are 2 stores in my immediate area. I guess I'm just not that observant when I drive on these particular streets. I'll have to check them out because I have to admit...I do feel a little guilty when I just toss my empty cartridge!

The printers we have at the office for some reason will not accept recycled or generic cartridges. We have to buy name brand or it jams up. For my printer at home, we recycle them!

Linda - isn't it interesting how we drive by places like this and never notice? I was surprised at their many locations, I thought they were just local until I found their website

Sandra - interesting! Wouldn't be surprised if the company that makes your printer is in cahoots with the cartridge company on this!

Mary,

In the past I have always used recycled cartridges but now I have a HP that refuses to print out a good quality page using recycled cartridges.

Mike - interesting! I hope that the cartridge companies aren't in cahoots as I suggested above to Sandra. This does not sound good.

Good suggestion Mary. I think that recycled cartridges are also more economical to those of us real estate professionals on a BUDGET!! LOL

Kimberly - thanks for your reply! Saving money is the name of the game anymore! Seems to me everyone is on a budget!

I've used recycled ones in the past, but I always have mixed quality results with them.

Mary - I would love to use recycled cartridges. I have had the worst luck, however, getting them to work.

Jackie - it's interesting how some people say they've had good luck with them and others say they've had terrible luck with them. Maybe it's where they are purchased that makes the difference. I know that Cartridge World has a money back guarantee...I've only had to take one back in the last 2 years.

Mary, I use to do just that and then we bought this fancy new printer and it has all these different cartriges and to be quite honest I have not figured them out yet.

Marchel - don't ya just love those contraptions they come out with now where you can't figure anything out??

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