HP Makes Ink And Toner Cartridges From Recycled Water Bottles

Posted by Rob Errera on 05/08/2023

Approximately half a million plastic water bottles are discarded in just one minute instead of being recycled.

The rise of plastic water bottles in the 1980s spawned a global epidemic of plastic waste. According to reports, the average volume of bottled water per person is expected to reach 61.79 litres in 2023, contributing to an environmental crisis of significant magnitude.

Haiti’s Plastic Bottle Epidemic

With limited access to fresh water, Haiti relies on bottled water to survive. This has resulted in a trash and sanitation epidemic on the island.

On January 23, 2010, a massive earthquake devastated Haiti. The months of relief effort that followed added to the abundance of plastic bottles on the island. The island was nearly buried beneath plastic trash!

HP To The Rescue

HP intervened to address the critical situation by creating a new demand for recycled bottles. They use these bottles to manufacture new ink and toner cartridges, which has provided job opportunities for industrious Haitians.

These individuals collect plastic bottles scattered across the island and exchange them for cash at local recycling centers.

Haiti's "bottles for cash" incentive is a part of HP's Planet Partners return and recycling program, which facilitates simple and convenient recycling of original HP ink and toner cartridges.

Since 2000, HP has utilized over 199 million pounds (90 million kilograms) of recycled plastic in the production of new ink and toner cartridges. This initiative has prevented nearly 5,000 tractor-trailer loads of plastic from reaching oceans or landfills.

Recycled And Reused

All original HP cartridges returned to HP Planet Partners are combined with other recycled plastics... like the empty water bottles collected from Haiti and other countries.

They go through a multiphase, closed-loop recycling process and are separated and refined for use as raw ingredients in new HP ink and toner cartridges.

How To Recycle Your HP Cartridges

Here’s how you can recycle your used HP ink or toner cartridges or Samsung toner cartridges with HP Planet Partners:

Toner:

Use the free shipping label enclosed in every new box of HP LaserJet toner cartridges that can be used to recycle one cartridge or a box of cartridges. If you have Samsung toner cartridges, you can drop them in this box too.
Drop off used HP or Samsung toner cartridges at any Staples store.
Drop off used HP ink cartridges at any Staples, Office Depot, Best Buy or Walmart store for free recycling.

Ink:

Drop off used HP ink cartridges at any Staples, Office Depot, Best Buy or Walmart store for free recycling.

Contact the HP Planet Partners call center at 1-800-340-2445 to order free recycling boxes or envelopes. Help is available Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 8:00pm Eastern (closed on major U.S. holidays).

“Green” business practices play a key role in all of Toner Buzz’s business efforts. Whether it’s getting your ink and toner to last longer, or refilling your hungry printer with genuine, brand name ink and toner cartridges, Toner Buzz is your one-stop-shop for all OEM printing supplies.

The video below gives a more in-depth review of the process.

Rob Errera

Rob Errera is an award-winning journalist embedded in the world of printers and printing supplies. Rob has nearly two decades of experience writing about cutting edge technology, business trends, and the ever-evolving industry of printing.