Canon converts printer cartridges that have been thrown away into asphalt additive
With improved printer efficiency, less then 10 percent of each cartridge’s toners become waste. In older models, however, up to 20 percent of the cartridges were lost to the cleaner slump.
Discarded printer cartridges may not have much toner left in them today, but what little toner they do have can’t be reused in its current state. Canon has begun to recycle this waste product into a binding agent and coloring agent for pelletized asphalt.
About Canon Virginia Waste Toner Recycler
Canon Environmental Technologies is canon’s largest toner cartridge recycling facility. It is managed and located in Gloucester County Virginia by Canon Virginia Inc.
The facility was built to recycle used laser printers’ toner cartridges and other waste toners. It uses the most advanced technology to separate different components of the recycled material. Magnetic separation is used to remove ferrous metals like steel and aluminum.
Canon Virginia’s Recycled Toner Pellet Project
Canon Inc.’s Recycled Toner Pellet project process involves leftover toner containers arriving at the facility and being classified by material type before getting deconstructed. The facility then melts the plastic waste and transforms it into pellets to make new cartridges out of recycled plastic. Metal components are then sent to business partners for reuse.
How are recycled toner pellets manufactured?
To make recycled toner pellets (RTPs), the toner is pulverized to make it usable again. These RTPs are currently used by Basic Construction Company to color and bind asphalt. They are located in Virginia Beach.
This is a good way to use pellets. Why? Toner is primarily made of carbon powder and silica. After years of safety and environmental testing, the Virginia Department of Transportation has finally approved using the pellets in Basic Construction’s asphalt roads.
Basic Construction will continue to test RTPs over the coming months to ensure there are no adverse impacts on asphalt. After these tests are completed, Basic Construction plans to use the pellets in road construction projects throughout the country.
How plastic is recycled into roads around the world
This asphalt is being used for projects such as local roads. Canon Virginia Inc approached the construction company to test the RTPs. Now, the company buys all pellets from the recycling facility. This is not the first instance of toner being recycled into asphalt binder. TonerPave was first tested in Melbourne, Australia in 2013.
Missouri
The Missouri Department of Transportation and the University of Missouri have teamed up to test a new road construction mix made from plastic waste. Straws, plastic bags, and drinking bottles can be used to replace traditional stone, gravel, or sand aggregate. Engineers have already applied two miles of their plastic-asphalt mixture onto Stadium Boulevard in Columbia to demonstrate its effectiveness. This allowed for vehicles to average about 36,000 per day.
New York City
To reduce the amount of pollution that is released during extreme heat days, polymer-based roads are increasingly popular. New York’s Staten Island is launching a new initiative to make plastic-based roads mainstream. Three years ago, MacRebur, a Scottish company, tested a process that adds recycled bottle plastic to asphalt. Each ton of asphalt contains approximately 80,000 plastic bottles. These plastic bottles are made from both post-consumer and commercial waste plastics that have not yet been recycled. This is a very important fact as it reduces waste in landfills and oceans, rather than simply reusing existing plastics.
“In simple terms, asphalt is made of bitumen and stone, but with our technology, part of the bitumen can be extended with our mix – reducing the amount of fossil fuel used. We can do this because we are turning the plastic into its original oil-based state and binding it to the stone with the help of our activator.”
India
India has made great progress in its efforts towards reducing plastic pollution and creating a more sustainable infrastructure. In India, more than 60,000 miles have been paved with recycled plastic waste. Mixing recycled plastic with bitumen became a requirement in 2016. This innovation is of extreme importance in a country with high levels of plastic waste and few roads.
Mexico
The Mexican state of Guanajuato has made history by constructing the world’s very first eco-highway. The 4 kilometers stretch that links Irapuato and Cuerámaro was paved with 1.7 tons of recycled plastic! This initiative speaks volumes about Mexico’s commitment to protecting its environment. They are not only creating a greener infrastructure but also setting an example for other countries around the globe to follow to reduce emissions from traditional construction materials.
What is the Future of Used Toners
While the future of discarded toner cartridges looks bright, it’s important to remember that even if you’re recycling your old printer cartridges, they still contain hazardous materials. Some toner products, such as cadmium and lead, can contain heavy metals like lead. Some toners are toxic or flammable. Therefore, it’s best to dispose of them properly so that they don’t end up in landfills or pollute our environment. Don’t be one of those people in denial of responsibility, throwing their toner in the waste bin instead of a designated toner recycling method.