Second Hand Camera Recycling:
There is a large strong market for second hand camera recycling and re-use. If the camera is still in working order then somebody will be able to find a use for it.

Traditional cameras are preferable to single use cameras from an environmental stand point, but single use cameras can be more suitable in some situations.

Single use cameras can be recycled to reduce the environmental impact that they have. However because they are limited to a certain number of photos, a well used traditional camera will have a significantly lower environmental impact by the end of its life.

There has been concern over the quality of recycled cameras, however a recycled camera should be indistinguishable from a brand new camera.

Reloaded Cameras:
‘Reloaded’ single use cameras are not the same as ‘recycled’ single use cameras.

In a reloaded camera a new film has been inserted into an old casing, whereas a recycled camera will have been re-manufactured and will have undergone testing to ensure a quality product.

Reloaded cameras have a 50% chance of causing a defect on the film as they are frequently reassembled in conditions which expose the film to dust, they may also contain a film that is of an inferior quality.

Respectable companies will recycle their cameras and not reload them.

Kodak Recycling:
Kodak has responded to the growing concerns on the environmental impacts of disposable cameras.

They now recycle and re-use their disposable cameras.

When a camera has been used and it is dropped off at a Kodak booth. The packaging is disassembled into its different components.

The plastic parts are shipped to a recycling centre where they are re-ground and used again.

The paper is taken to be recycled and the other camera parts are tested and re-used.

All of the batteries are recycled or reused within the Kodak company.

Once all of the parts have been recycled or are ready to be re-used they are taken to one of Kodak’s manufacturing plants.