To those who would like to send their used and empty Brother printer cartridges for recycling programs specifically from their  brand manufacturer, here's a quick guide to help you. For Canon printer users, you can check out this post about Canon European Inkjet Cartridges Recycling Program and see the options that would fit you preferences. Keeping our own ways out of landfills and incinerators is a great thing to do, let's promote sustainability and make it a trend.

Brother printer supplies particularly ink and toner cartridges can also be recycled, actually there's no printer supply that can't be recycled except for the components that can no longer be reused. It's a good thing that most printer manufacturers are offering return programs and recycling services to their consumers for free. Recycling indeed helps the environment, but as little as you know, it can also developed you to become environmentally responsible.

First step is to visit their main website, browse through their site and look for the page that provides information regarding printer cartridges shipping. To make things easy, you may click this link to go directly to Brother's Environmental Programs. There are three easy steps to follow, this information is also provided from the said page but to give you a heads up of what the options might be, here they are:

PACK - This allows customers to reuse the original packaging of the item they previously purchased to wrap the used cartridge before sending it back.
PRINT - Since Brother doesn't offer a drop off bin unlike HP and other brand manufactures, you need to log in to your Brother account and request a shipping label to create a USPS SmartLabel for shipping.
SHIP - Once the shipping label was sent to your email, print it and attach the SmartLabel to your package and bring or drop it off to any U.S. Postal Service mail system.

It is ideal to use the original packaging when you first bought the cartridges, however if in case you're not able to keep it since you haven't thought of reusing it for such purposes, it's advisable to use spare plastic bags. If you don't want to seal them cause you're too lazy, you can also place them in cardboard box with the size enough to keep the cartridges intact. Then attached the label on it and rush to the nearest post office to drop it off.

Since you just sent the cartridges back to its manufacturer of course you need to buy some replacements. As a reminder, before you get too excited to re-install the new cartridges to your printer, keep the packaging in your storage room and don't disposed it. So by the next time you need to send back another batch of used cartridges, you'll now have something to use to seal the cartridges for shipping. Always remember to practice recycling or use recycled toner cartridges and ink cartridges with your printer for green printing.

Since it's summer, why not keep yourself busy with environment friendly and fun learning craft activities that will improve your green way of living. It's pretty usual that after school days, you'll find a lot of projects, research papers, things and stuffs from school piling up in your room. Instead of dumping it all into the bins or wait for the garbage truck to pick them up, why not make use of all those materials for recycling purposes, that sounds much better. To ensure that our own waste wouldn't end up in the landfills, move and start digging inside the box, check all those things you have and see which can still be reused.

Aside from those stuffs, recall those paper works and printouts you've made during the school year, set aside the paper materials we'll have a different thing to do with those. What you should be gathering are the printer consumables you spent for all those term papers, researches and printed materials. Here are some of the nicest and niftiest recycling activities that you can do with old and used printer cartridges. Let's bring out the creativity within you, and show your friends how artistically you can be.

Starting from the very easy and simple yet fancy project, let's call it as Project1 or the Cartridge Paperweights. Everyone can use it especially in the office, make as many as you can and give it to your mom, dad, brothers, sisters, friends, or anyone that may need it. With the use of some adhesives and glittering accessories, you can embellish the empty cartridges with anything you want. But before doing the fun part, first you have to get dirty cause you need to clean the cartridges and fill it with sand. You can't call it a paperweight if it literally doesn't have any weight,right? Once done decorating the cartridge, glue it into a cardboard or a small piece of wood to serve as its base so it can stand. You now have your very own paperweight out of recycled toner cartridges and ink cartridges.

Rank two on our list of the easiest recycling project are the ref-magnets. Instead of buying why not make your own, so you'll have a more customized design and decorations. With Project2, you have to purchase small magnets which will be placed at the back of the cartridges. You can either paint or let the cartridges as it is, but make sure their clean,since kids might reach out of those and nibble it.

Third on our list is called the Family Picture Frame. This one's a bit tricky, since you have to collect ink tanks of different sizes and thickness. You'll have a problem if you only have one class of cartridge at home, but I've got a work-around. Get some glue and stick two cartridges to make its width double than the usual, then repeat the process but now make it three pieces of cartridges. Once the glue completely dried out, arrange the cartridges in a cardboard with a size enough to hold your prepared cartridges. Paste those cartridges into the cardboard but don't glue the cartridges near to any cartridge with same thickness. Let the cartridges stick in place, once they're perfectly glued to the board, cut pictures of the members of the family and paste it randomly to the cartridges, then allow it to dry.

Here's the hardest and perhaps will keep your hands at work literally. Prepare cartridges of the same sizes and types, clean and remove the labels so it'll have the translucent effect. Now get a wire and make a hole at the bottom side of each cartridges -- from these holes you'll shoot the wire. It's like creating a bracelet of used cartridges, think of the cartridges as the beads and the wire as the string. If you want a lamp with height, glue two layers of it to make a tall lamp. It can also work as a chandelier, just tie a wire on to the top cartridges or the lid and hand it on a chain that can support its weight.

Million tons of paper waste are accumulated annually in the U.S. alone, then what more if we add up the waste from other countries around the world. No one should say that they have no idea on how should they properly managed waste or limit their consumption to reduce their generated waste. Cause as far as today's level of media and technology, we are well informed about such ways and acts that may help us improve our daily living in terms of reducing waste. 

Saving paper products and materials is not a very hard task, even kids can do it while having fun, it's just a matter of how you imply its worth. Positive results are driven by positive actions, and remember this part of song by the iconic Michael Jackson, "if you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change". Start doing small things, like changing the way you usually print, it's not easy to change what you've been accustomed to especially if you make it a habit, but still you have to change if it's for the best.

Before hitting the print button and sending your file to the print queue, check your file, are there more spaces where you can fit in more into the page, or see if the formatting is efficient both to the printer and paper you'll use. Unless it's a report that requires double spacing or any specific format. See if you can still reduce the font-size to a smaller font, as long as it's still readable, also avoid overly large font sizes and styles, this way you'll not only conserve paper sheets, but the inks/toners as well. Also, it's a good practice to use recycled printer papers and eco-friendly toner cartridges or ink cartridges when printing.

The way to communicate with one another has rapidly change, although snail mails are still available. If you're message is not that important, then use a mobile phone, if you want to chat and open a messenger, if it's a bit important or private,then send it through email. Several options are available depending on the importance of what you're about to send. As much as you can eliminate printing emails, bills and all sorts of printables, then do so.

Learn to recycle, and if you're not capable of doing such thing which I hardly doubt, then consider participating to any recycling organization in your community that accepts paper materials. To save more paper, we have to use them repeatedly and believe it or not there are hundreds of ways to reuse paper materials which you haven't thought of as possible. Just try to see this post about recycled paper materials turn back into wood or maybe the brief history and facts about paper will guide you on determining how can you make use of paper products efficiently.

To set the record straight about what's the real deal between the print industry and the environment, how printing affects the ecological system, as well as the environmental impacts of every print we made. Here are the revealing facts that we should know before you skeptically accuse the value of printing.

Many companies, not only the manufacturers in the Print Industry, are relying on printing technology. Indeed, there are negative impacts that had brought the environment to a not so well state due to improper printing practices, but it shouldn't always be the one to blame.

Let's start with one of it's commonly consumed material, which is paper. People have this common notion that using paper materials kill trees, I give it a check, but trees are renewable, thus it can be replaced. For a fact, in the United States alone, they managed to increase their trees population by up to 20% in comparison to the 1st Earth Day celebration way back 40 years ago (AF&PA). Private land owners in U.S. are planting trees everyday, 4 times the number of trees they harvest daily, and still continue to keep their land for forestry. The bottom line here is that, if you keep on wasting or using paper products, then might as well double or triple your effort on giving back what you got, plant trees more than what you consumed.

E-Books are very common nowadays which perhaps affects the industry of book publishing. Books are produced from paper materials and printing process, and if you think you're helping the environment by becoming an E-Reader, here's what you need to know. Paper productions require about 50-60% of energy which comes from renewable resources, take note of the word "renewable". Now with those E-Books, how are you supposed to access and read those? Through tablets, smartphones, mobile devices, etc., whatever you call it, still they all generally address as electronic wastes. Another question, how are you supposed to use an e-book reader unless it has a charge right? Do you think the power or energy that your devices consumed can be renewed, even so, the health effects and environmental effects of using such devices are more adverse than reading a book.

Electronic waste or what you call high-end devices, are made of plastics, metals, and a combination of minerals that are non-renewable, and can only be acquired through mining. Furthermore, most of these devices have only 60-80% of their components which can be recycled, the rest are dismantled, disposed and end up as land fillers. Whereas the supplies and consumables of a printer has a better rate of recyclability. Printer cartridges for example can be recycled for more than 4-5 times or more, these are called recycled toner cartridges and ink cartridges. They produce less carbon footprint compared to several electronic devices that unsafely and uncontrollably emitting carbon footprints which definitely harm the environment. 

To print or not to print? It's not a slogan nor a motto, it's  a question you should be asking to yourself every time you're about to make a print. Do you really need a copy of this, or is it that important that you really need a printed copy? Unless it's a business related document or file, say a report, of course you'll be needing a printer, but actually you can just save it to a storage device, bring it in the office and distribute it to everyone who will be coming to the meeting. However, not all companies or offices would suggest this idea as they would still prefer having a hard copy. But ideally, the one we suggested would be more convenient and efficient for a company and even to all its employees.

Bills and receipts likewise, can be access online through your account, instead of receiving monthly sheets of bills, why not consider paperless billing? A few stores in the U.S. are offering electronic receipts, which aids in the reduction of paper wastes. Besides, it would be nice to have a digital receipt if there are chances that you want to return a certain product.

If you're a coupon and discount fanatic, there are downloadable apps that you can get for free to save and view those coupons you gained. Instead of printing discount stubs and coupons, these applications will allow the user to view the coupon through their mobile devices, plus they keep you updated with the latest promo and offers from various brands and stores.

Make use of your handsets or tablets when making schedules and setting appointments. Digital memo is more ideal and efficient that arranging your schedule on a PC or laptop, print it and keep inside your bag, wallet or organizer. An organizer will do, but what we're trying to achieve is a paperless environment right, thus using sticky notes, memo pads, and organizers is a big no no.

In the event that you really need to print a certain document, file or whatever it is, make sure you have enough supplies of environment friendly products such as recycled paper or much better if you're using recycled toner cartridges and ink cartridges. Through these suggestions, you get to save your hard-earned money, and greatly help in saving our environment by doing all means and possibilities to reduce your own waste especially with your daily printing.

There are several ways and options to utilize a mobile device which will improve one's perspective and dedication to green living. Additionally, our today's technology is partly adjusting to at least diminish the negative impacts that many industries are generating. If you have a great idea to contribute, please let me know in the comments below.

When it comes to printing one must be ready with the expected and unexpected expenses that may arise along with maintaining a printer. At first you might not be able to notice this but actually purchasing such device will not count as the beginning, but rather by the time you have to get a replacement once the initial supplies run empty. A customer who owns a printer for such a long time is practically aware of how expensive print consumables can be. In fact, they said that if try to pile or sum up all the receipts and cost you spent over a year from buying cartridges, you might just drop your jaw. That's where the idea came from, that -- you would rather get a new printer that comes with a set of free cartridges instead of purchasing a set of replacements.

One of the simplest and ideal way to considerably make the expense lower is to start using recycled printer supplies. These products are definitely not associated to those substandard consumables. Compatible cartridges are also different from recycled supplies, nor it's not even related to refilled cartridges, not at all.

Recycled printer cartridges are made from used or empty ink and toner consumables which are basically reused to manufacture new original supplies. Once a cartridge runs empty on ink or toner, it's just the consumable inside it that was spent. While the components are still reusable and in good working conditions, manufacturers along with their recycling programs accept returned supplies such as cartridges and even old printers. Some organizations would be more glad to give rewards to anyone who participate in their programs by simply returning their printer's spent cartridges or again even the machine itself once it reaches it's end-of-life.

Post-consumer cartridges are not the only ones that undergo recycling process, paper products particularly the supplies we used for printing purposes can also be recycled. Whether you're using a printer in the office or at home, wouldn't it be more convenient in your part if your device is using cost-efficient and environment friendly recycled toner cartridges or ink cartridges, plus those recycled paper materials?

Again, it's not hard to switch to green printing practices and it wouldn't break the bank or cost you more, than keep on using highly expensive replacements. The market has a lot to offer, but remember although there's an abundant of supplies to choose from, cheaper doesn't always mean ideal and you have to learn how to dig inside a mixed bag. It's either you fall into the right retailer or end up wasting your money from fraud manufacturers.

Paper materials or paper products whatever you call it, they're basically made from wood. Albeit there are many ways to recycle them, there ain't much ways to bring them back to their original form or state. But with Andrej Malinin, a Swedish clever designer who used newspapers and colorful pages of paper waste for her recycling project which aims to create a compostable furniture as durable as a real wood.

The output was superbly unique, sturdy and hard as wood with texture and appearance that resembles lumber or timber. Malinin just basically glued thousands of paper layers using a water-based adhesive, and the output was incredibly awesome that it actually mimic a wood. His wonderful creation was entitled "Back To Wood" by the designer himself which definitely implies the true interpretation of Malinin's recycling project.

Come to think of it, if it's really as strong and durable as what they claimed, that it can withstand pressure and several factors that a real wood can endure. Then wouldn't it be nice to create your own table or rack by recycling tons of paper materials which eventually will turn as waste? Of course there are considerations and certain limits to which you should be mindful given that it's not really made out of wood. Perhaps like using it for your table top decorations or flower vases. Another good idea is to create a computer rack or a printer rack, where you can place your printing machine into a naive and environment friendly stand.

Say, in the office, there are hundreds of paper waste or drafts or printouts that you can collect and recycle for this purpose. Why don't you make a framework, like I said for a printer equipment, since it's kind of light and small. Additionally, it's the printer that mostly generate paper waste in any office and businesses, hence it's ironic to use its waste for a good purpose. If being eco friendly really matters to you, plus, crafting and nifty recycling projects are just your stuffs, then it's worthy to try making your own version of Malinin's Back to Wood creation. Then another good suggestion you may consider is by using eco-friendly toner cartridges or ink cartridges with your printer, as well as recycled paper products when printing. You can cut down the bills and expenses accrued annually, and most importantly, save and protect the environment.

Some people used to have collectible items, others are just making it a habit to keep something then eventually it became a collection. Whatever your collection may be, it can be a nifty hobby to collect valuable things and stuffs that define who you are. Our today's collection isn't something unusual to many, indeed these are just simple things to consider, but rarely given importance.

Actually this collection or rather list isn't new, you can find more of it by simply browsing the net, but I prefer to have my own list. PrintGreen promotes environment friendly resources, topics and ideas, hence our collection should relate to eco friendly stuffs as well. You can't always get to read a post about recycled products, while politics or some sort of it are very common elsewhere. Perhaps you could spare a moment of your time reading this shortlist.

Recycled Paper Materials
In its early times, recycled paper products are basically costly for a reason from which I'm not very particular. But let's live the past, nowadays such materials are of low prices and even better. Let's be thankful to the market competition, recycled paper materials became less expensive and more long lasting.

Recycled Pencils
If you think that recycling is just for papers, then what can you say with these recycled pencils which are made from reused materials? There were variations like pencils made from magazine materials, scrap woods, and other biodegradable components.

Recycled Ballpens
I kinda like this one, the Bottle-2-Pen ballpens from Pilot. They're not just made from recycled PET bottles or drinking bottles, they also have the same texture and grip similar to an actual water bottle. Aren't they look nice, unless you don't want to have a fancy and a bit bulky ball-pen to use for school.

Recycled Notebooks
Since there are recycled paper materials available, manufacturers tried producing notebooks and binders through such materials. They're practically more efficient, with covers that are really sturdy and customizable. Aside from notebooks, there are also notepads made from recycled materials. Actually, making your own recycled notebook is very much easy, just gather those old notes of yours and see if there are blank pages which can still be used. Remove the spring or the stitch, whatever binds it, then compile all the blank pages and stitch it back, and there you have it.

Recycled Printer Cartridges
Printing is a staple task, hence we should be mindful of our own practices. Using original cartridges may result to an extensive recurring expense, and one possible way to turn the tide is by opting for less costly printer consumables, and these are the so called recycled toner cartridges and ink cartridges.

In our today's Economy, probably most laser printer users, not only those individual owners but also some offices and businesses, would prefer online retailers for getting supplies. Practically it is acceptable, first you not only get discounts and privileges, second there's an extensive cut in your printing expense that is certainly noticeable.

Another factor why most consumers prefer online retailers is that, they can compare prices as well as the amount they can possibly save, up front. Instead of the idea to stroll around the streets, look for a retail shop or direct seller, and see which one has a good offer to fit your budget. Ideally, we all want to save, hence if ever there's a possible way which can aid on cutting down any expense, we will certainly go for it.

Original printer supplies such as branded ink and toner cartridges are highly expensive, and customers can't do nothing as of the moment to partially take the price down. Due to this fact, alternatives are getting the spotlight and taking all the credits from the consumers who were satisfied for what it can provide. While it's inevitable to experience minor issues with a printer that uses compatible cartridges, this problem can actually happen the same with OEMs. The quality specifically the output of a printer that used original cartridges is way better over the alternatives. However, there are cases from which these low-cost consumables have delivered printout quality of par with high-price cartridges. These instances led to a long argument that debates which among these two consumables is the ideal.

Whichever brand or manufacturer you're side may be, it wouldn't compromise your loyalty to them if you use remanufactured cartridges. Canon and HP are two of the most competing printer manufacturers in the Print Industry, along with a few, but even these major companies do recycle their products. The purpose of their recycling programs is mainly to reuse the materials and components of their used products. This results to the production of eco-friendly toner cartridges and ink cartridges which aids to the sustainability and preservation of resources which are use to manufacture new printer consumables.

To achieve a completely zero-waste landfill is a bit skeptical considering the industry's situation right now. Nevertheless, we should be more practical with our printing practices, besides it's part of our essential responsibility for the environment.

In United States there are such laws that prohibit printer manufacturers to void the warranty of the machine where recycled toner cartridges are being used. For areas which are protected by such federal laws, they are fortunate to be able to break their expenses particularly in printing. The use of recycled printer consumables provide significant savings and more importantly it protects the environment through reusing processed materials.

Just like any existing matter, all the components of a printer cartridge may wear off in time, that is why there's a certain limit to which a piece of cartridge can be recycled. It depends on the condition of the cartridge itself whether how many times it can be reused, more likely 3 times is the minimum. I wonder how the manufacturers know the approximate number of times a cartridge has been recycled, perhaps there's a mark.

If you think refilling your own cartridges is considered a recycling process as well, in a way yes it is. But the real recycling process doesn't only involve refilling the tanks, it goes a long way. Refilling the cartridge by yourself has a higher tendency of getting a defective one. Also, if you inject enough ink into the tank then it failed to work properly, in the end you only waste the ink, your money, as well as the cartridge which might be more useful if you let someone knowledgeable do it. Unlike if you sent it to your respective retailer which has a cartridge return program, that cartridge you've wasted might have found a new life.

Cartridge recycling or any form of recycling stretches the useful life of a certain product, as well as the materials and components that it comprises. Although the print quality may not be as good as with OEM cartridges, the cut in price plus the environmental benefits that it provide are good trade-off. In addition, cost is not the primary factor to consider when determining the best quality. Remember that what matter is how you print, not by how much have you spent for it.