Paper is important in a wide variety of applications for modern businesses and professionals that need to communicate, store information, and keep their records organized.
Due to budgetary constraints or a desire to conserve the environment many people use refurbished toners and recycled paper so that they can maximize their resources. If you are interested in using refurbished ink or recycled paper, there are several things to know so that you can decide whether or not these products are right for you.
Recycled Paper
Recycled paper is important partially because of how much paper is used by humans today. In “Recycle: The Essential Guide,” it was reported that paper can account for as much as a fifth of all of the waste that a household produces. Recycling also prevents trees from being cut down for paper or for the room that they occupy, since many times older trees are cut down so that pulp trees can be planted for paper. However, there are some issues to consider if you are thinking about using recycled paper in your home or office.
Paper that is recycled degrades in quality as it is recycled, and chemicals are applied to the paper that is to be reused during the recycling process. These chemicals can often be harmful to human beings. Also, recycling paper involves increased costs, since it is more expensive to recycle paper than it is to simply dump it in a landfill. This often means that you will end up paying more for recycled copy or printer paper. According to the Responsible Purchasing Network, the average cost of paper with 100% post-consumer waste is $9 more than virgin paper. This is important to think about if you are running a business or if you need to purchase large quantities of paper.
Refurbished Toner Cartridges
Ink and paper go hand-in-hand. Most people use them in conjunction with printers, fax machines, or copy machines. There are several different styles of ink cartridges that people can choose from, including toner cartridges, which are used for laser printers. The most common kinds of cartridges are:
OEM
Short for Original Equipment Manufacturer. Cartridges that have the OEM label on them are sold by the same company that manufactures the printer. These cartridges are guaranteed to work, as long as they are compatible with the machine that you are using. For example, if you own a HP Deskjet 1510 printer, then for the best printing results you should use a HP 1510 ink cartridge.
Compatible
These are also known as “generic” cartridges. They are created by a company besides the one that makes the printer. Compatible cartridges are often the least expensive of the three types.
Remanufactured Cartridges
These cartridges are cleaned out and refilled with ink or toner so that they can be used again. The party that remanufactures the cartridge may also perform any repairs or replacements that are necessary for the cartridge to be used.
So which cartridges are best for your needs? OEM cartridges are guaranteed to work and will usually offer the best quality ink, but they are also the most expensive. On the other hand, generic cartridges will save you money on your toner purchases, but they may offer inferior printing quality. Remanufactured cartridges are best for the environment, but you may not get the same quality of printer ink on them if they do not come from a quality provider.
To make sure that you get the best ink or toner for your needs, be sure that you shop at a reputable distributor. Read all labels or product descriptions very carefully and make a note of model numbers or other information about compatibility that will determine whether or not you can use the product in question with the equipment that you have.
Also, make sure to be conscious of the return policy of the store or dealer that you are buying the products from. Some companies will not let you return products that have been opened, which means if you get home or to the office and discover that you have bought the wrong kind of ink or toner, you will be stuck with it and will not be able to recover the purchase price.
Whether you are buying paper, ink, or toner for a business, a casual organization or simply for personal use, it is important to be aware of the things that need to be done so that you can get the right kind of equipment. Using recycled paper and refurbished ink and toner cartridges may be the best option for the environment, but it also has the potential to increase the amount of money that you pay for these products.
To make an informed decision about which kind is right for your needs, you should compare the different options that are available and then weigh your finances as well as your values to decide what kind of ink and paper will allow you to fulfill your responsibilities, stay within your budget, and make you feel good about your environmental impact.
