Laser & Computer Option's - Environmental Committment

Over the past 14 years, Laser & Computer Options, Inc. has been doing its part in protecting the environment by recycling laser toner cartridges.  Unfortunately, many do not properly recycle their cartridges, and they wind up in landfills throughout the world.  We strive to recycle our toner cartridges responsibly and to the best of our ability.  

Toner cartridges are made up of several components.  Some of the cartridge parts can be tested and reused in the cartridge remanufacturing process for several cycles.  Laser & Computer Options, Inc. post-test all of these items to verify that there are no defects in these components.  When we detect an anomaly in a component, the item is taken out of production and is usually recycled or converted to another useful product.

 Laser & Computer Options, Inc. keeps track of each component’s life cycle by placing special tags or codes on the component.  For our cartridge boxes, we place special “environmentally friendly” stickers on the box so that end-user can write notes on the label (e.g. “Empty toner” / “Please check for warranty”) without defacing the actual box.  This allows us to reuse the container several times before it is recycled.

 A list of interior components and their suggested times they can be re-used, if not damaged, are as follows:

Magnetic Roller                  3 to 4 cycles

OPC Drums                          1 to 3 cycles

Wiper Blades                        1 to 2 cycles

Doctor Blades                     2 to 3 cycles

PCR Rollers                           3 to 4 cycles

Cartridge Core                   up to 10 or more cycles

Boxes                                     up to 5 or more cycles

 Laser & Computer Options, Inc. sends expired components to a variety of places.  Drums are sold as scrap aluminum to a company located in Phoenix.  Both the magnetic roller and the PCR roller are sold to companies that recoat them and sell them to other recyclers around the world.  The wiper blades and doctor blades, as well as some magnetic rollers that aren’t eligible for re-coating, are sold for scrap metal.  Redundant cores – excess OEM cores, etc., are sold to various core brokers across the country, or to recyclers in need of a specific empty core.

 Laser & Computer Options, Inc. also offers its unique programs that are designed to create a special delivery system capable of providing a toner cartridge without a sealant strip.  Because of this system, the end-user does not have to discard the piece of sealing tape that would otherwise go directly to the landfill.  

Laser & Computer Options, Inc. does not stop here though.  In fact, our service department replaces so many parts on a monthly basis, that all of those used parts (e.g. fuser assemblies, transfer kits, paper input units, etc.) are sent back as core replacements or sold as part cores to be refurbished and/or recycled.  We work closely with companies to handle the parts collection.  

We have partnered with the City of Tempe in the recycling of all cardboard, paper and plastics.  Assured Security Document Destruction(ASDD) a Tempe based company has teamed up to destroy and recycle all confidential documents.  ASDD is a division of The Center for Habilitation(TCH), a non-profit Tempe company that employs people with disabilities.  All money from this process is funneled directly back to the non-profit TCH.  

Laser & Computer Options, Inc. is fortunate to be able to work in an industry that can offer so many partnerships between customer and supplier, all striving to preserve the environment and do their part in recycling.