| Printers and copiers are very useful machines: they | | | | 3. Printer ink residue contains Volatile Organic |
| make duplicating documents easy, they can help you | | | | Chemicals (VCOs). VCOs are harmful substances that |
| print photos in a more affordable way and they make | | | | can cause birth defects, health problems and even |
| school projects a lot easier to do. But while they are | | | | cancer. When ink cartridges are disposed, the leftover |
| essential to life, their ink cartridges can be harmful to | | | | ink residue in them can release highly toxic VCOs in |
| you and the environment. Different printer ink can | | | | the air, water or surrounding environment. |
| release deadly fumes, while ink cartridges are | | | | 4. Laser printer and photocopier toners can be toxic. |
| non-biodegradable, adding to land fills and garbage. | | | | Laser Printer Ink and the ink used for photocopiers |
| Both printer ink and ink cartridges can be toxic in many | | | | contain resins and carbon black, which can be toxic |
| various ways and here are some reasons why | | | | and harmful in huge amounts. Your skin can get |
| normal, regular printer ink can cause damage to your | | | | irritated if it comes into contact with laser printer ink or |
| health and the environment as well. | | | | ink from photocopiers. It's recommended that you |
| 1. Ink cartridges are non-biodegradable. Every year, | | | | wash your hands immediately after handling laser |
| people around the world add thousands of tons of | | | | printer ink cartridges or photocopier ink, especially after |
| garbage in landfills and garbage dumps around the | | | | ink cartridges recycling. |
| world. Used-up printer ink cartridges are also dumped | | | | 5. Particles from laser printers can be more dangerous |
| without much thought in garbage and landfills. These | | | | than smoking. A recent study from Queensland's |
| cartridges, which are made of high-grade polymers or | | | | University of Technology states that laser printers can |
| plastic, can take up to 1,000 years before they | | | | release super fine, harmful particles that are as |
| decompose. It's advisable to practice safe ink | | | | dangerous as cigarette smoke or the emissions from |
| cartridges recycling to help save the environment from | | | | motor vehicles. |
| damage done by improper disposal of printer ink | | | | It's surprising that a machine you use everyday can |
| cartridges. | | | | actually be harmful to your health and the environment. |
| 2. Ink cartridges can become corrosive. Thousands of | | | | Both printer ink and ink cartridges can be toxic if not |
| printer ink cartridges are dumped in landfills all over the | | | | handled carefully and if companies and offices do not |
| world. These printer cartridges can, in turn, become | | | | practice proper ink cartridges recycling. To be free |
| corrosive, flammable and reactive. When burned or | | | | from pollutants and to help keep Mother Earth clean |
| punctured, printer ink cartridges can explode or release | | | | and safe, help by saving printer ink, practicing safe ink |
| deadly fumes which can harm the environment and | | | | recycling and by using only environmentally safe, printer |
| even the people living in areas near landfills or | | | | ink. |
| dumpsites. | | | | |
