Each year, over 500 million printer cartridges are sold in the United States, and up to 375 million end up in landfills. More than one million cartridges are thrown away every day. A single toner cartridge can take 450 to 1,000 years to break down, and each one adds about 3.5 pounds of solid waste. Both inkjet and toner cartridges can be recycled or reused. Reusing them can cut the oil needed to make plastic and ink by up to 50%, which lowers the environmental impact of printing ink by 30%.
You can keep printer cartridges out of landfills by recycling or refilling them. Local print shops and independent office supply stores often offer affordable refill services, or you can use a refill kit at home that matches your cartridge type.
Costco stores in Canada still offer refill services, but U.S. locations stopped this program in late 2021. If you run a business, you can choose from several mail-in refill services, such as Doorstep Ink, which Earth911 reviewed in January 2022.
If you want to refill cartridges yourself, follow these steps:
- Buy a printer cartridge refill kit from an office supply store or online. Keep in mind that these kits often come with plastic or glass bottles, which also have a carbon footprint.
- Put on rubber gloves to keep ink off your hands.
- Take the cartridge out of your printer and find the two refill holes or the toner refill port, which may be under the label. Use the refill syringe from the kit to add the ink.
- Follow the instructions in your kit to see exactly how to fill your cartridge.
- Seal the ink cartridge again after refilling.
- Clean the refill syringe after every use.
Local Recycling Options for Ink and Toner Cartridges
If you want to recycle your ink or toner cartridges, you can take them to Office Depot, Staples, Best Buy, or Target. Use the Earth911 recycling locator to find local options, and call ahead since store policies can change without warning. You can also check below for mail-in programs from major manufacturers.
Keep in mind that cartridges not made by the printer manufacturer, or by a third-party company that clearly labels their products as “recyclable,” may not actually be recyclable. When buying inkjet or toner cartridges, avoid those described only as “compatible” if you want to recycle them later. Cheaper cartridges might save you money now, but they often end up in landfills, where they break down into microplastics and nanoplastics but never fully decompose.
When storing ink and toner cartridges, put them in leak-proof bags to avoid spills and messes. Also, pack them carefully to prevent leaks during transport or shipping.
Not sure whether refilling or recycling is the right option for you? Read on in our FAQs to see when each situation makes the most sense.
Find Recycling Guides for Other Materials
Frequent Ink Cartridge Recycling Questions
Is it better to recycle or refill ink cartridges?
Refilling ink cartridges produces less waste, but you can’t reuse them forever. Many people find it easier to refill cartridges instead of buying new ones each time, since refilled cartridges are filled to the top and often last longer than some new ones. If you choose to refill, remember to recycle the cartridges when they’re no longer usable.
How many times can I refill my printer cartridges?
You can usually refill toner cartridges only two or three times before they need to be replaced. For inkjet printers, try not to let the cartridge run out of ink completely before refilling. If the sponges inside dry out, you won’t be able to refill them.
How can I earn rewards for recycling ink cartridges?
Staples rewards members earn $2 back in Staples Rewards for each recycled ink or toner cartridge when they’ve spent at least $50 on ink or toner at Staples in the previous 180 days. Base members can recycle up to 10 cartridges per month, while Plus and Premier members can recycle up to 20. Drop cartridges at the register or use their online mail-in program with prepaid shipping labels.
Office Depot/OfficeMax rewards members earn $2 back for each recycled ink or toner cartridge (up to 10 per month) when making a $10 qualifying purchase in the same month. The program has kept more than 65 million cartridges out of landfills since 2003. Bring cartridges from any brand to any store, or print a free prepaid UPS shipping label to mail them in.
Best Buy accepts ink and toner cartridges of any brand at all store locations. Recyclers receive $2 off their next in-store ink purchase of $40 or more, or toner purchase of $100 or more. There is a limit of three items per household per day.
Target has offered front-of-store recycling kiosks since 2010, accepting ink cartridges, cell phones, and small electronics at no charge. Look for the recycling bins near the store entrance.
Do ink and toner cartridge manufacturers offer recycling programs?
Yes, many do:
HP: The HP Planet Partners program lets you drop off printer cartridges at participating office supply stores or ship them for free. The cartridges are part of a closed-loop recycling program, so the company reuses the materials itself. HP also handles recycling services for Samsung ink and toner cartridges. Your options include drop-off at 18,700 locations, free mail-back labels, or bulk pallet pickup for businesses with large quantities.
Canon: Canon’s recycling program allows participants to drop off cartridges at FedEx locations. There are separate programs for inkjet cartridges (drop-off at over 1,600 FedEx Office locations) and toner cartridges (free UPS return labels available for printing from Canon’s website). Canon has collected approximately 473,000 tons of toner cartridges through 2024 and operates four global recycling facilities.
Lexmark: The Lexmark Cartridge Collection Program (LCCP) offers free mail-in cartridge recycling. Seal the old cartridge in the bag your new cartridge arrived in, then request a free mailing label or drop it off at any Staples store.
Epson: Epson’s recycling program offers multiple options. Drop off cartridges at participating retail locations, or mail them. Business inkjet users can request a free recycling kit with a bubble mailer and prepaid FedEx shipping label.
Brother: Brother recycles inkjet, toner, and drum cartridges through a free mail-in program. Place your old cartridge in the packaging your new cartridge arrived in and print a free shipping label. Many of the company’s toner boxes include a UPS Consumable Return Program label for convenient returns.
Xerox offers free postal return for most toner cartridges, with pallet collection available for bulk quantities. Many Xerox cartridges include prepaid return labels in the packaging.
Sharp toner cartridges can be recycled at any Staples store, or customers can print a UPS prepaid label for small quantities. For bulk recycling, Sharp provides collection boxes with prepaid shipping labels.
Ricoh includes prepaid shipping labels with many toner cartridge purchases to make returns easier. Check your cartridge packaging for return materials.
Dell printer cartridges can be recycled at Staples stores.
For businesses with large volumes of mixed-brand toner cartridges, third-party recycling services like Close the Loop (which converts recovered toner into asphalt additives) and Evolve Recycling offer free collection programs with prepaid shipping.
Are there programs to recycle ink cartridges and benefit a charity?
Yes. Cartridges for Kids is a program that allows schools, churches, and nonprofits to collect inkjet, toner, and handheld electronics and receive cash in return. The program has helped organizations like Easter Seals raise over $194,000, and the Children’s Miracle Network earn over $76,000.
Other fundraising programs include:
- FundingFactory, which has helped over 50,000 organizations earn $26 million since 1997
- Planet Green Recycle for inkjet cartridges (note: they do not accept toner or laser cartridges)
- InkRecycling.org, which offers cash payments for qualifying cartridges with free shipping labels
- Evolve Recycling, which pays organizations monthly for the ink and toner cartridges they collect.
Additional Reading
- How to Refill Inkjet Printer Cartridges: Step-by-step instructions on how to inject toner into your cartridges to save money and reduce waste.
- Circular Ink and Toner From Doorstep Ink: Learn about this easy-to-use circular printer ink service for business.
Editor’s Note: This article, originally published on June 5, 2016, was most recently updated in December 2025.