As a student taking classes in college there are a few things that you’ll do at least once or twice every semester:

• Procrastinate writing a paper
• Fall asleep in your dorm room or in the library researching that paper
• Stay up late the night before typing the paper
• Run out of ink printing the final copy of the paper (and it’s due in 15 minutes)

We’ve all done it before, and it’s definitely not fun when you have to run halfway across campus to the library to print out your paper because a) you could not afford to buy another ink cartridge or b) you are so devoted to the green movement that you refused to buy another one because of the harmful effects it has on the environment.

Well, I’ve discovered a way for you to be both eco-friendly and responsible when you print out your papers, and it has to do with recycling!

One of the safest and  most affordable ways for students, or anyone else who goes through tons of ink jet cartridges every year, to print on paper is to purchase recycled ink jet cartridges. Instead of piling up in landfills, the non-biodegradable plastic used for the cartridges can be cleaned, refilled and then resold for less. That’s a huge help to your wallet and to the environment!

An even better incentive to buying a recycled inkjet cartridge is to donate your old one to a good cause. Some organizations give you money for donating your old cartridge, while others use the money raised from resold cartridges to benefit charitable organizations.

Choose What Works for You

There are many websites that sell recycled cartridges and offer ways for you to donate your old ones. Here are a few:

Atlantic Inkjet

Inkjet Cartridge.com

Enviro Solutions

Squid Inkjets

Re-inks

Transverse Myelitis Association

Recycle-Free

Now you have no excuse not to turn in your paper or presentation on time! Not only will you feel good that you got your work done, but you’ll also help to minimize waste!