Most homes and businesses have at least one printer. Whether used a few times a day or once a month, these printers will age just as fast as a computer. As with any other type of e-waste, your business must understand how to properly dispose of your printer. Don’t throw it in the trash. In order to remove the product without harming the environment, you can do a few different things. Let’s take a look at what to do responsibly with those old printers that just sit there, collecting dust and cluttering your office.
Understanding the Importance of Safe Disposal
Small amounts of toxic chemicals are contained in ink and toner cartridges alone.
Plastic housings, printed circuits, and other components also pose a threat to the environment.
Knowing this, most states have strict rules against dumping printers. In fact, Business News Daily reports that over the years, large corporations have been charged and fined for learning to deal with printers the wrong way.
In most cases, the material inside a standard printer can be reused in some way.
In the global fight against climate change, the smallest change in your business habits can have a huge impact on the entire world.
Why Can’t You Throw Out Old Printers?
Throwing away an old printer is like throwing away other types of electronics — you can’t throw them away. Printer cartridges can contain toxic elements, and many states have enacted laws regarding the proper disposal of electronic waste.
Businesses that dump electronics illegally can face hefty fines. A notable example was in 2014 when AT&T was fined up to $52 million for mishandling e-waste and illegally sending hazardous materials to landfills.
How To Dispose Of Old Printers Properly
Break it Apart
Your printer may be outdated and slow. It’s not necessarily broken. Consider this printer a source of parts.
Many businesses use the same printer model throughout their office, which means one of them may still be in use.
If the device you want to keep fails, replace the bad part on the “junk” printer with a good one.
Reusable parts include:
- toner
- drum
- paper holder
- Output tray extension
Most printers have some form of PCB or printed circuit board built into them. If the machine continues to fail, replace it. It works great and doesn’t end up damaging the part. You’ll end up with most of the parts of your old printer, which were basically processed piece by piece.
Recycle Old Printers
When it comes to the disposal of old printers, recycling is one way.
Your local recycling center will tell you what to do with outdated computer peripherals, such as printers and scanners. Some recycling centers may charge a fee to recycle your old computer equipment, but they will reuse, recycle, and repurpose every part of your old electronic equipment. Most materials end up in new products in a variety of industries.
Donate Printer
Another option for the printer is to donate it to charity. Ask about your local charities’ needs for computer peripherals. Some facilities collect, repair, and donate printers to nonprofits and others.
In return, you can write off the income tax.
When you donate your printer, it is used instead of going to the landfill.
Redistributing your printer will not only reduce your taxes, but it will also pay off.
Selling Old Printer
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Conservation states that any peripherals, including printers, cannot be thrown away with standard trash.
Don’t pile up old printers in the pantry, though. Other companies or individuals may use the printer.
Also, you can sell used printers for a small fee. Make some money while helping those in need! Printers are no longer suitable for your needs, but students or low-income earners may value these resources. Clean up that old printer and put it on the auction site!
According to the European Ink Association, improper disposal of printers can have a significant impact on the environment.
How to Prepare A Printer For Removal
Each printer brand may have its own safety instructions for proper handling (just like HP does), but most printers follow the same general guidelines when preparing to remove and handle the printer.
- Remove the ink cartridge. Carefully remove the ink cartridge from the printer (to avoid damaging the ink cartridge cradle). Depending on the type of cartridge, you can keep it with another printer, sell it, recycle it, or dispose of it separately.
- Remove the SD card (or other removable memory). Removing any added memory is an important step, especially if you plan to dispose of the printer. Delete any storage not included with the printer to keep your information safe and accessible.
- Restore factory defaults. The printer’s touchscreen usually has an option to restore factory defaults; look for a menu named Settings, Setup, or Maintenance, or refer to the manual.
- Unplug and disconnect the wires. Wires, like ink cartridges, can be preserved for future use, sold, or recycled. If you plan to sell the printer, keep all USB and power cables next to the printer so they don’t get lost.
- Remove the printer from the computer. Finally, go to the Printers and Scanners section of Computer Settings and remove the printer from the list. That way, printing doesn’t automatically default to the hardware you no longer have.
Summary
So if you run a business, make sure everyone understands the protocols related to asset management. Recycling or reusing items is the best way to remove them from service. Your new printer will have you up and running in no time!
