Hi Claire,
Unfortunately most manufacturers of residential RO systems provide filters and membranes that are factory sealed in the outer plastic housing. The three main reasons are that you are locked into buying their replacements cartridge/housing units, they are very easy to change out, and they don’t take up much space. It is a pity that the housing and element assemblies are designed to be discarded. You may wish to check out other systems, primarily whole house systems. Many of these systems have separate filters, (sediment, softening, iron removal, carbon) depending on what your water treatment requirements are. Many of the separate filters have a housing that can be opened up to access the filter element/cartridge so only the element is thrown away. With this type of set up you can have a separate RO unit plumbed in with whatever type of filters you need. Even if you use this type of system for a single water tap, they can still be economical and practical
The initial cost for these systems is typically higher, have more plumbing as each individual filter has to be connected via tubing and you have to be more careful when installing new filter elements to make sure you get a good seal when you close the housing back up. If you mount everything under the sink this type of system will also take up more space. But you can save in the long run and be more “Green” by tossing the element only. Here is a link to a comparison of systems and the type of elements and housings offered. As an example, the Aqua Pure whole house system allows replacement of the element only where as the Everpure under the sink set ups have disposable housing/element units. Hope this helps a bit.
http://www.waterfiltercomparisons.com/water_filter_comparison.php?d=gp
Does anyone out there know where or how we can recycle our water filters? I was hoping they were re-usable. They are for the reverse osmosis system. The company who we bought from says they are working on finding a company who will recycle them. We were told to "simply dispose of them" lock-stock-and barrel! I am pretty shocked that they call themselves GREEN. I just don't feel comfortable chucking all that plastic housing along with the filter membranes into the landfill. This system was a gift. And it does a good job. Our well gives us water with the number of particulates at around 300 something and the filter brings it down to under 10. no complaints there, just what to do with the filters next????