Refilling Ink Toner Cartridges

Instead of buying a new toner cartridge, have you ever thought of getting your empty one refilled instead?

Sadly, not all models of toner cartridges can be easily refilled, but many can. Manufacturers would obviously prefer you to buy new cartridges as it improves their profit margins. And in some instances they will put technical challenges in the way to make refilling as difficult as possible.

However, if it is possible to refill an ink cartridge and we’re happy that your desired print quality can be maintained, we see it as a great way to keep your printing costs down.

Managing your refill program

Refilling a toner cartridge is a great way to save money and of course improve your carbon footprint. However, be mindful that you can only refill a cartridge a finite number of times as working parts will eventually wear out, even under normal working conditions.

So, even if you refill, you will still need to buy a new cartridge every once in a while. Many in the industry recommend no more than three consecutive refills with the same toner cartridge. The wear on a cartridge can eventually build up to a point where it can lead to cracks or leaks in the plastic casing.

In any event, always make sure you have a replacement cartridge ready for when your refilled cartridge eventually wears out. Also, the refilling process will normally take a few days to complete, So make sure you order any refill well in advance of when you expect your present cartridge to run out.

Pre-fill Inspection

Before your cartridge is refilled, make sure it's inspected for any signs of damage or wear. If there is a problem you can then make sure you order a replacement in good time, and of course avoid the unnecessary expense of refilling a cartridge which may ultimately cause problems or fail soon after.

Also, as part of the refilling service, any reputable refiller will empty out any existing toner, as well as reset or replace any mechanical or electronic indicators (chips) that need attending to before the cartridge can be used again.

Save Money and Recycle

The message is that refilling can be a great solution, but it may not be the answer - or even practicably possible - for every cartridge on the market. But if you can, not only will it improve your recycling record, it may just be the answer for your particular printing environment, and it could save you a whole load of money.

This article is published by the Energy Saving Centre on behalf of Village Ink, helping domestic and business consumers in the Swindon, North Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire area to reduce their printing costs.