Here’s How You Can Make Money When You Recycle Ink Cartridges
It’s easy to let empty printer cartridges pile up. You don’t want to trash them because you know they’ll end up in a landfill, but refilling them is too messy. So they slowly accumulate on your desk or in a drawer, contributing to the clutter you keep meaning to do something about.
The good news? You can actually get paid to dispose of your empty ink or toner cartridges and be environmentally friendly at the same time.
3 Ways to Make Money From Ink Cartridge Recycling
Here are the three most common methods of earning money with empty printer cartridges — read on to find out which one makes you the most money.
Sell Used Printer Cartridges on eBay
You may have seen new ink and toner cartridges for sale on eBay, but did know that you could sell empty ones there as well?
I’ve sold empty inkjet cartridges from my HP home printer through the site twice. The first time, I made $24.99 for six empty cartridges, and the second time I sold five cartridges for $34. Selling multiple cartridges at once, known as selling in lots, helps save you time and makes your listing more attractive to buyers.
Make sure your listings stand out by including details. Note the manufacturer, model numbers and whether the cartridges are black, color or a combination of the two. Add a picture of your cartridges as well. You don’t have to be Ansel Adams, but clearly show what you have to sell.
If you’ve never refilled your cartridges, include the word “virgin” in both the title and description of your listing -- it could make your post more popular and earn you more money.
Turn Empty Cartridges in at an Office Supply Store
Big-box office-supply stores like OfficeDepot and Staples will recycle ink cartridges and even have ink cartridge recycling reward programs. These stores will give you $2 in store credit for each qualifying cartridge that you turn in, up to a maximum of 10 empty cartridges per month. That $20 a month could go a long way toward paying for school supplies each September!
To participate, you must be a member of their customer reward programs and make qualifying purchases. But if you regularly shop at either store, this could be a good solution for you. It’s also worth checking out your local mom-and-pop office-supply store to see if it has a similar program.
Use a Cartridge Buy-Back Site
Several websites offer to buy back your empty cartridges, and most also pay for the shipping costs. One example is Evolve Recycling, which will send you a check once your balance reaches $25. Laser printer cartridges can command quite a bit more.
Which Option is the Best?
While each option has its advantages, returning cartridges to an office supply store is least desirable to me, since it involves both a special trip and store credit.
Selling through a buy-back site is slightly better because it avoids those things, but the wait for the check makes this option less appealing.
For me, the best place to sell empty ink cartridges is eBay. I already know the site well, and once the transaction is complete, I can quickly access the money in my PayPal account.
Julie Mayfield is a freelance writer and blogger.
