There is no denying that we have a huge need for printers and printer ink. However, one thing you may want to know is whether or not printer ink is toxic.
The good news is that printer ink is non-toxic. However, this is when it has been manufactured in accordance with the very strict safety and statutory rules that are in place. This is why it is a good idea to educate yourself on printer ink and the ingredients used. You should also choose a reputable supplier like YoYoInk.com. Click here to discover more about the company, as it is a good example of the sort of businesses that are out there and legitimate when it comes to selling ink.
There are some traces of ingredients such as carbon black and resin in ink cartridges. However, the vast majority of ingredients in printer ink are alcohol, ethylene glycol, and water.
Printers can cause damage though
In today’s digital age, e-waste, also known as electronic waste, is a growing concern. This is a term that is used to describe electronic products that have come to the end of their useful life, i.e. they do not work, are no longer wanted, or have become obsolete. This includes all of the following and much more – mobile phones, TVs, computers, printers, CD players, DVD players, fax machines, and PDAs. Nowadays, when you consider how rapidly technology progresses, it is not difficult to see how quickly electronic waste builds up, as most items only have a few short years of use.
The problem is that when these items are disposed of a lot of materials are being wasted, and severe damage is being caused to the environment. This is why we need to dispose of these items in a safe and effective manner.
Recently, United Nations experts revealed that consumers are discarding 42 million tons of electrical and electronic equipment each year, and the UK is the world’s sixth-worst offender in terms of total amount of e-waste generated. However, active steps are being taken to resolve this issue, and the implementation of the Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 is an extremely positive step.
This became law in the UK at the start of last year, and it outlines ten broad categories of WEEE, which are as follows – small household appliances, large household appliances, IT and telecommunications equipment, automatic dispensers, monitoring and control equipment, medical devices, toys and leisure and sports equipment, electrical and electronic tools, consumer equipment, and lighting equipment.
The legislation has the sole purpose of reducing the amount of waste electronic and electrical equipment that ends up in landfills. However, it does not only provide instruction on what to do in terms of recycling and reusing, as compliance can often mean improving product design to ease dismantling so that recycling and reusing becomes easier in the future.
How to solve the e-waste problem
The main issue with e-waste is the fact that a lot of people do not realise there is an issue to begin with. Thus, education is the starting point when it comes to solving this problem. We are all in the habit of recycling cardboard, bottles, cans, and such like, and, therefore, we need to create the same sense of duty when it comes to electronic products too.
If you have an old computer or mobile phone, don’t throw it in the bin, instead, see if there are any companies nearby that offer a recycling service where you can return your gadget for free. If not, your local council may run a scheme. There are also specialist companies that can handle this for individuals and businesses.
It is vital to leave this in the hands of the experts, as health risks can arise because of the complex mixture of product types and materials that are found within electronic products, some of which are hazardous, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and certain flame retardants. From the manual disassembly process to large-scale shredding technologies, various techniques are used to dispose of electronic waste in a safe and effective manner.
To conclude, e-waste is something that concerns all of us, from individual consumers to huge conglomerates. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what it entails and what you can do to make a difference.