What’s The Scenario Behind Print Cartridges?
Published on January 26th, 2012.
Consider the fact that in 2012 some 1,8 billion print cartridges may have been dumped in trash dumps and be supplemented by a further three hundred and fifty million year after year, and you have some picture of the usage factor of cartridges along with the environmental predicament they cause. Cartridges are calculated to take up to from 450 to a thousand years to break down. These little beasts also induce some other environmental complications in their manufacturing, like inducing the emission of 4,8 kg’s CO2 per cartridge. Another 3,2 Kg’s of CO2 is emitted by the toner within the cartridge for the lifespan of the toner.
To try and counter this phenomenon, the United States and Europe have began with the release of legislation to encourage the recycling of cartridges. This isn’t entirely great news for the producers of cartridges, as they obviously will lose out on the sale of new cartridges. Some makers actually make it difficult for the refilling and recycling of their cartridges, by adding a chip that can not be reset for additional use. Then again someone that could remove this chip on a specific manufacturers’ cartridge, discovered he could print up to 38% more than what the chip intact would allow. So, in essence this manufacturer was denying the person the usage of 38% worth of ink thereby forcing acquiring new cartridges.
An ink cartridge is a changeable part of an ink jet printer. The cartridge contains the ink and in some cases the print head. The price tag on such cartridges (mostly two per printer for black and white and colour printing) are pretty high-priced and in some absurd cases it is less pricey to buy a new printing device than replace the cartridges. Cartridges of various manufacturers can’t be interchanged because of different design criteria and other electrics. Often when a printer uses two cartridges, the white and black cartridge won’t work if the colour cartridge is empty forcing the replacement of colour cartridges.
Notwithstanding all these tricks by the original suppliers, it is possible to spend less on replacement cartridges. Firstly, check around for “compatibles” at +- 30-40% discount, which are largely originally manufactured cartridges by alternative makers, or secondly have your original ink cartridges filled by one of the shops that sell compatibles. Provided your ink cartridges are in good condition and have not been filled more than three times, such transaction will save you an impressive 50-70% discount compared to a new branded ink cartridge. Some shops in addition offer so called “re-manufactured” ink cartridges, but those are no more than re-filled and cleaned up cartridges. Another (perhaps not too good an option) is to fill up your own cartridges, but this in practise has proofed not to be such a great choice as it is messy and the results often less than satisfactory.
It is not always realised by the customer but printing is an expensive part of computing, in particular for those people that get involved in photo printing or other forms of technical printing. It is smart to explore alternatives in order to save on printing costs.