The quality and reliability of print cartridges are the most important factors that determine the overall life cycle environmental impact because low print quality will increase paper consumption.
Good environmental public policy for printers and cartridges considers all life cycle phases in addressing the interconnected challenges posed by landfill waste, carbon emissions and natural resource depletion.
Life cycle assessments show that non-OEM remanufactured and refilled print cartridges are not environmentally preferable to original OEM cartridges across the entire life cycle. Public policy that simply favours print cartridge remanufacturing and refilling will not benefit the environment.
Remanufacturers should be responsible for the take back and environmentally-sound treatment of their cartridges at the end of their life. Given the inclusion of print cartridges within the scope of the new Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Directive, remanufacturers must now comply with the requirements of the Directive, including take-back, proper treatment and achievement of the recovery rates.