Recycling - General Information

Inkjet and Laser Toner Cartridge Recycling

Information on recycling in Solihull, including statistics, waste to energy conversion, inkjet/laser toner recycling and furniture donations.

Ink jet and laser cartridge recycling banks can now be found across the borough at the following recycling centres:

• Brooklands Hospital, Brooklands way, Marston Green
  
• Marston Green Tavern, Station Road, Marston Green
• Chelmsley Wood Royal British legion, Clopton Crescent, Chelmsley Wood
• Parkfield Drive shops, Parkfield Drive, Castle Bromwich
• Dorridge train station overflow car park, Station Road, Dorridge
• Tesco Notcutts, Stratford Road
• Shelley Farm shopping centre, Farmhouse Way
• Tudor Grange Park car park, Monkspath Hall Road
• Co-op, Balsall Common, Kenilworth Road
• Harvester Public House, Tanhouse Farm Road

Millions of ink jet cartridges are used in the UK every year and at the present time less than 10% are currently recycled. Ink jet cartridges take 1000 years to decompose in landfill sites. Approximately 600 empty laser toner cartridges weigh 1 tonne. Recycling these reduces the waste sent for incineration and landfill.

1.5 pints of crude oil are needed to make one inkjet cartridge, so for every cartridge reused this oil is saved. Oil is a non renewable fuel, it cannot be remade.

Recycling ink jet cartridges, by refilling them, saves raw materials used to make the cartridges, and reduces disposal costs, as less waste is thrown away.

It is quick and easy to do, just put a maximum of three inkjet cartridges into the free post envelope and put it into a post box.

• Once the envelopes arrive at the office in London they are emptied and the cartridges are sorted.
• The empty cartridges are tested for recycling suitability.
• A machine then flushes out every last drop of ink and thoroughly cleans the cartridges for reuse.
• After cleaning the cartridges are dried and then filled with new ink and tested.
• Finally the remanufactured cartridges are wrapped and boxed and delivered to retailers.
• The money raised is donated to the Tommy's charity. See http://www.tommys.org/ for more information on the charity.

Freepost envelopes are available at libraries across the Borough, at  Solihull Connect offices, or by contacting the Council on 0121 704 8000.