I got a lead on some printers. Quick transcript of the conversation was:
"I work for a computer repair store. We're going through our printers and getting rid of some. Will you take them?"
"Yeah"
"Ok, we'll give you a call when they're ready"
Now I'm thinking 'crap - hope they're not throw-away inkjet printers'. Those would be a waste of my time. So I googled his name and it points to an office supply/repair store. Now I think "Phew - laser printers with lots of steel, hard drives, circuit boards, etc...". Then I notice that printers are exempt from Washington's Ecycle program, which means I won't be able to just drop them off if something goes wrong. There's a place close that charges $50 per large format printer to drop off.
So, if it is the larger laser printers, here's my plan. If it works, stick it aside to resell/part out. If it doesn't work, quick tests on components such as trays to part out. Tear out hard drive, circuit boards and wiring. Sell the rest as scrap steel. Recycler here will take the rest for free, or I can take off most of the plastic and get $.10/lb steel rate. I can also take out the toner cartridges and recycle those. Am I missing anything?
If it's small desktop inkjets, I can sell the cartridges, but is there anything worth scrapping on those? Would it even cover the cost of having to dispose of the plastic?
Which reminds me - anybody know of an ABS plastic recycler in SW Washington?
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