How to Properly Recycle Your Ink Cartridges: A Simple Guide (2024)

FAQs

How to Properly Recycle Your Ink Cartridges: A Simple Guide? ›

Cartridges are broken down into various parts - steel, aluminium, clean and contaminated plastic, residual toner, and ink during the recycling process. Steel components are re-used to manufacture appliances such as fridges and washing machines, whilst aluminium is used to make cans for food and drinks.

Cartridges are broken down into various parts - steel, aluminium, clean and contaminated plastic, residual toner, and ink during the recycling process. Steel components are re-used to manufacture appliances such as fridges and washing machines, whilst aluminium is used to make cans for food and drinks.

The most straight forward way to recycle your ink cartridges is to bring them to your local office supply store. Places like Staples, Best Buy and OfficeMax/Office Depot all provide cartridge recycling programs where you can earn rewards.

Over that last couple of years, InkRecycling.org has helped hundreds of schools raise money for their causes. Use recycling to earn money and help pay for school field trips or school dances. This is the best way to have some extra money to pay for supplies to pass along to the kids.

Earn money by collecting and handing in emtpy ink cartridges! By handing in your empty HP -, Canon or our own brand cartridges to RecycleClub you will receive a reimbursem*nt!

Recycle in-store

Many places accept your used ink cartridges for recycling. Several of the major “big box” retailers have ink disposal containers near where they sell their ink. Office supply stores also have recycling boxes or stations that accept almost every type of inkjet and toner cartridge.

Because ink cartridges aren't suitable for normal decomposition, many printing companies now offer free recycling services – as almost 100% of the materials in an old printer cartridge can be recycled.

HP provides simple and convenient recycling of empty HP inkjet and LaserJet cartridges in over 45 countries/regions around the world. HP Planet Partners has been working for over 25 years to responsibly recycle cartridges and avoid sending them to landfills.

Cartridges do not break down in landfills.

In addition to the components comprising toner, the anatomy of a cartridge consists of steel and plastic. The same study which found that 375 million cartridges are disposed of each year noted that it takes between 450 and 1,000 years for one to break down.

If there isn't enough ink or toner left in the cartridge, the printer will display a low or empty sign to indicate you should replace the cartridge soon.

Where is the best place to recycle ink cartridges? ›

Office Depot, Office Max and Staples ALL collect spent cartridges for recycling! YOU can recycle at Restaurants! See what you can do to bring recycling to your local restaurants.

Can you recycle ink cartridges at Walmart? Yes, Walmart accepts ink cartridges and toner for recycling at all of their stores. In fact, many manufacturers actually list Walmart as an authorized recycling facility (this list includes HP, Kodak, and many others).

InkRecycling.org will offer to pay cash for your used printer cartridges. OR Get rid of them at your local office supply store which will take some time out of your busy day.

Staples Rewards members receive $2 back in Staples Rewards for every eligible cartridge recycled in person in a Staples store or online at staplesrewards.com, up to 10 per calendar month for Base members and 20 for Plus & Premier members, if the member has spent at least $30 in ink and/or toner purchases at Staples ...

Recycling in store, the member must: (1) be physically present at the store when the cartridges are turned in for recycling, and (2) identify membership account. Recycling online, the member must log in to their membership account at staples.com/easy to gain access to ink and toner recycling.

Toner cartridges should always be disposed of in an appropriate container or bin and shouldn't be treated like a regular trash item. If you're at home, you can put your cartridges in the recycling bin.

You should not put toner cartridges in the bin. The ink used in these products can produce a type of dust that harmful. Plus, your waste cartridges might be considered hazardous. This is because some cartridges contain hazardous substances.

Use the recycling service at local retailers: Many office supply, home electronics, and big box stores have recycling boxes or stations that accept most HP cartridges. For example, through a partnership with Best Buy, HP offers nearly 1000 electronics recycling drop off locations in the United States.

The ink and toner that is used in cartridges are carcinogenic, and as such they are considered to be hazardous materials. On top of that, the cartridge itself may be made from dioxins, which is also harmful to humans.

The presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals in landfills can contaminate soil and water. Shockingly, over 375 million empty ink and toner cartridges are discarded annually, ending up in landfills where they take up to 1000 years to decompose fully.