How to Properly Dispose of Ink Cartridges: Recycle or Reuse!

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posted on 18 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Throwing away empty ink cartridges is bad for the environment and a waste of plastic. Unfortunately, some components in the cartridge mean consumers can’t recycle these at home. Thankfully, there are a number of ways to reduce the impact of our printing waste and make sure these cartridges don’t just sit in landfills. This wikiHow guide will show you 4 ways to properly dispose of ink cartridges.

Things You Should Know

Bring your empty ink cartridges to an office supply retailer like Office Depot or Staples to recycle and get rewarded.
Alternatively, take the cartridges to Walmart and Best Buy for recycling. You may get a $2 coupon at Best Buy for every cartridge!
Return empty ink cartridges straight to the manufacturer by mail. Check their website or call their support line to learn how to ship your cartridges.
Refill your cartridges! Some ink cartridges are designed to be refilled — take them in to a retailer like Walgreens or Costco to get them professionally filled.

Bring to a Retailer

Determine your best option. Taking empty cartridges to a store is the surest way to get something back for recycling. If you print and buy frequently, this is the way to go.

Find the right store. Most office supply stores will accept used cartridges as part of a rewards program, so you’ll want to find a place that you visit frequently. (Local participation may vary). Office Depot accepts ink cartridges as part of their rewards program. Staples accepts cartridges purchased from them and will provide a $2 rewards credit.

Check out other retailers. Some general supply stores will also recycle ink cartridges. Best Buy will recycle up to three ink or toner cartridges per day for free! They may give you a $2 coupon for every cartridge. If you’re part of the loyalty program, you can get a 15% off coupon for future ink purchases. Most Walmarts will have a section for recycling ink cartridges. Costco will send you free pre-paid shipping labels, but you have to provide the box. HP Planet Partners provides a free recycling locator and free shipping labels and materials for pack-and-ship recycling. They also have free pallet pickup if you have more than 76 toner cartridges or more than 1,000 ink cartridges.

Keep the cycle going! Often these programs reward you with discounts to buy more ink. Keep returning them to save money (and the planet). There are also a few ways to save printer ink and reduce the amount of cartridges you use.

Return to the Manufacturer

Determine if your manufacturer has a recycling program. Many manufacturers package their ink cartridges with a returnable envelope. If not, check the manufacturer's website or call to see if they support a recycling program.

Pack the cartridges. Manufacturers will often specify guidelines on how to pack and ship the spent cartridges to avoid leakage. Make sure to follow their specific instructions. For example, HP recommends taping 2 to 8 supply boxes together and using 1 prepaid shipping label to send them. They alternatively recommend using your own sturdy box.

Ship the cartridges. Once the manufacturer receives the cartridges, they’ll handle the recycling. Give yourself some credit — your effort is helping the environment!

Refilling to Reuse

Determine if refilling is right for you. Some retail stores will refill your ink cartridges. Reusing ink cartridges is low-cost and environmentally friendly, but you do have to wait while the cartridges are cleaned and refilled.

Check that your cartridges are supported for refill. Some cartridges are not designed to be refilled. Others may not be accepted by retailers for various reasons.

Find a refill location near you. Major retailers like Walgreens or Costco will fill empty cartridges for a fee. After refilling your cartridge, you’re ready to reinstall it! Replacing a toner cartridge may follow a slightly different procedure than ink cartridges.

Register with a Recycling Program

Find the right program. There are a number of independent charities or programs that will accept or even pay money for empty cartridges. Think about a cause you want to support, but also keep in mind the scale. Often these organizations are targeting businesses for donations, not individual consumers. Some organizations may have volume or frequency minimums in order to use their service.

Sign up for the program. Whichever program you settle on, most require that you enroll in a program to donate. Typically there’s a simple web-form you can fill out to register.