The best ways to dispose of printer cartridges
Why would you throw away printer cartridges if you could recycle them for cash?
Did you know that over 375 million empty ink and toner cartridges end up in landfills each year? Disposing of printer cartridges improperly contributes to environmental waste, but the good news is there are many sustainable ways to recycle or reuse them. In this guide, we’ll explore the best ways to dispose of your used ink and toner cartridges, from refilling to recycling programs and junk removal services.
Refill and reuse your old printer cartridge
Before tossing out your used printer cartridge, consider refilling it instead. Many office supply stores, such as Staples and Office Depot, offer professional ink refilling services at a lower cost than purchasing a new cartridge. DIY refill kits are also available if you prefer an at-home solution. Refilling extends the lifespan of your cartridges, reduces waste, and can save you money over time.
Where to recycle or dispose of ink and toner cartridges
If refilling isn’t an option, there are plenty of ways to recycle ink and toner cartridges. Many manufacturers, retailers, and recycling programs accept used cartridges and may even offer incentives.
Manufacturer take-back programs
Many printer manufacturers provide take-back programs that allow customers to return used cartridges for recycling. Here are some of the most common programs:
- HP Planet Partners - Offers free recycling for ink and toner cartridges.
- Canon Recycling Program - Accepts Canon-brand cartridges for proper disposal.
- Epson Recycling Program - Provides mail-in recycling options.
- Brother Earth - Allows customers to send back used cartridges for recycling at no cost.
Visit each brand’s website to find return instructions and locations.
Retail recycling programs
Several major retailers offer in-store recycling drop-off locations, and some even reward you for participating:
- Staples - Offers store credit for recycled ink cartridges if you are a rewards member.
- Office Depot/OfficeMax - Provides a rewards program for customers who recycle ink and toner cartridges.
- Best Buy - Accepts used printer cartridges for recycling at any store location.
Mail-in recycling programs
For those who prefer the convenience of mail-in recycling, several organizations offer programs that allow you to send in used cartridges:
- Recycling Advantage
- Planet Green Recycle
- InkRecycling.org
- Evolve Recycling
These programs often provide prepaid shipping labels, making it easy to send cartridges for proper recycling.
Local recycling centers
Many local recycling centers accept used printer cartridges. To find a nearby facility, use the Earth911 search tool: Earth911 Recycling Search.
Schools or Charitable Organizations
Certain charities and schools accept used printer cartridges to fundraise for various causes. Consider donating your used cartridges to:
- March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
- FundingFactory
- Cartridge Forest
Additionally, if you need to dispose of a broken printer, small appliances can often be recycled as well. Learn more about how to dispose of a printer.
We take all kinds of junk
If you have multiple cartridges or other electronic waste, a junk removal service is a convenient solution. At 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, we take all types of unwanted items, including printers and printer cartridges. Our team handles collection, recycling, and donation to ensure proper disposal.
Learn more about our junk removal service.
Recycling helps reduce landfill waste and protect the environment. If you’re looking for an easy way to dispose of cartridges and other e-waste, consider scheduling a pickup with us. We offer junk removal services across the U.S., Canada, and Australia, so we’re probably in your neighborhood. For more info, check out our pricing for junk removal or schedule a pickup online.
Frequently asked questions
1-800-GOT-JUNK? is more affordable than you may think. Our junk removal prices are all-inclusive, which means you get:
- Professional, uniformed and insured crew members
- Junk removal from anywhere on the premises
- Loading, lifting and sorting
- Recycling, donating and disposing of items
- Transfer station tariffs and fees
- Gas and travel
We charge by the amount of space your items take up in the truck. We think it’s more fair to you to price by volume instead of the length of time it takes us to lift and load. The best part is we’re cheaper in bulk: the more stuff you have, the more value you get!
For materials with a heavy cubic weight, like dirt, concrete, and gravel, pricing is based on the total volume the material takes up in the truck, up to a maximum of one foot in height for a full truck.
Email us at business@1800gotjunk.com or call us at 1-888-475-3461
If you need service on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis, we offer bulk pricing discounts. This gives you better value compared to common alternatives, such as dumpsters or less-professional junk removal services.
Interested? Call our business account team at 1-866-916-5865 to discuss your needs as well as pricing options.
On the day of your appointment with us, our friendly, uniformed truck team members will give you a call 15-30 minutes before the start of your two-hour promise window. They’ll say hi, let you know what time they plan to arrive, and confirm any other details about your appointment if needed.
Whether your business has a single location or multiple locations, we can create a custom junk removal solution that works for you. We can coordinate pickups at multiple locations at a local, regional, and national level. Rather than work with dozens of regional or local companies, let 1-800-GOT-JUNK? handle the jobs across all your locations.
Absolutely! We take large items all the time. As long as it can be lifted and loaded into the truck by two people, we'll be happy to take it away for you!
We work with all types of businesses and can handle any type of job - cleanouts, bulk item removal, general junk removal and even specific items like cardboard or pallets. We can take pretty much anything as long as it's not toxic or hazardous. We can remove your items from wherever they’re located, whether it’s your office, store, site or anywhere else—all you have to do is point!
Yes, we're fully licensed, bonded and insured! We have insurance covering damages to both persons and property for every single booking.
While we don't quite service the entire map, we cover almost every greater metropolitan area across the US, Canada, and Australia. To see if we’re in your neighbourhood, you can start a booking by entering your postal code.
Our customer service center is open 24/7, so we’re here whenever you need us! While operating hours may vary in our franchise locations, we offer same-day and off-hours service, including weekends.
