Printer Recycling

Printers, like other types of electronics, are made using toxic chemicals that will leech out of them as they break down in a landfill.  They will pollute for decades to come, and continue doing damage long after they’re gone.  This is why it’s so important to recycle old printers.  In this post I want to share with some of the different ways that printers are recycled so you can make an educated decision when this time comes for you.

Printer recycling is usually done by either the manufacturer or an electronic recycling center.  Both places will generally do the same things with your old printer once they receive it.

If your printer is newer and still in good shape, most of the time they will work to refurbish then resell it.  It might seem off-putting that they are turning a profit on your waste, but it happens more than you think.  You could have done this yourself if you wanted to, they are just doing it instead!  Most of the time they will sell them to businesses that are getting started in other countries.  In an indirect way you are helping to improve third world nations by recycling your printer!

Another common thing for them to do is take what they can out of them and use them as parts to fix other printers.  Working and non-working printers will both get this treatment.  The parts of a printer can usually be sold for more than the entire, put together unit can.

Everything else will generally go to a recycling facility where they will melt the plastic and metal down into a raw material that can be reused and manufactured into something new.

Recycling old printers is always a good idea.  If you don’t want your printer to take part in all of the things outlined above, donate it to someone that can use it or sell it yourself on Craigslist or eBay.