Some facilities are capable of refilling print cartridges. Refilling a print cartridge is more cost-efficient than continually purchasing new ones. To have a print cartridge refilled, it should be removed from the printer or copier it was being used in and promptly taken to a facility capable of refilling cartridges. Assure that no ink dries at the end of the cartridge. If an ink cartridge dries up completely, it is considered to be no longer refillable and only eligible to be recycled. After a print cartridge has been refilled, it can be reinstalled into the copier or printer that it was originally used in. Print cartridges can be refilled countless times before it is recommended that they be replaced.
Recycling is recommended because it is environmentally beneficial. Many companies reimburse consumers when they send in their used or empty ink cartridges. When a print cartridge is recycled, it gets refurbished, refilled and resold at a discounted rate. A typical print cartridge can be recycled and reused up to six times. Recycle4dollars.com recommends that consumers properly ship their print cartridges. When mailing in print cartridges, they should be placed in bags or wrapped with newspaper. It is recommended that some level of cushioning be used when shipping them. A label including the sender's information should be printed and attached to the box that contains the print cartridge. A backup label should be included inside the box in case anything happens to the outer label.