Printer Cartridges

Alternative ways to recycle
Special Instructions

Put used cartridges in a box (it’s fine if it’s the original box, but doesn’t have to be), and write RECYCLE on it. Create a Transportation Move Request and Transportation Services will take the used cartridges. Please check either the “Recycling pickup” of “Salvage” option on the request.

Alternative Ways to Recycle

CFK Logo Inkjet Recycling Program

Sell to Cartridges for Kids

If you are an administrator or teacher, or involved with a non-profit organization, Cartridges for Kids will pay for and recycle your used cartridges. They accept laser and inkjet cartridges, and they provide free labels.

Ribbon of Breast Cancer

Donate to Recycle for Breast Cancer

Send your used inkjet and laser toner cartridges for free to Recycle for Breast Cancer. They provide free envelopes or carriers for your cartridges, as long as they are not Epson or Canon ink tanks, as these are not recyclable.

Quill Logo

Sell to Quill.com

Send your used cartridges to Quill.com’s ink and toner recycle program. You earn $2 of QuillCash for each cartridge, which you can use to purchase new ink and toner.

 

Best-Buy-logo

Best Buy's Ink and Toner Rebate

Best Buy stores accept ink and toner cartridges, which can save you $2 in Recycle Rewards for a purchase of $40 or more. Find the nearest store.

Staples

Staples' Take Back Program

Staples accepts ink and toner cartridges online and at their store locations. You can receive a cash reward of $2 for recycling used cartridges. To qualify for cash back, cartridges must be purchased from Staples no more than six months before. Find out how to return cartridges.

Ways to Reduce

Buy Printers that Use Cartridge-Free Ink

Some companies, like Xerox, now make printers that use cartridge-free solid ink, which creates up to 90% less waste and uses 30% less energy than the cartridge using alternatives.

Leave Your Inkjet Printer On

Leaving your printer on at all times will avoid starting an ink-wasting maintenance cycle. According to an interview Canon did with Consumer Reports, if you turn the printer off “it may do a longer clean.” Even though they are consuming energy when on, inkjets consume very little power when they’re not being used.

Print in Draft Mode

If you’re not working on something important, print in draft mode, which reduces the amount of ink that gets used.

Avoid Large Photos

Large photos, especially those printed in high-quality mode, use up the most ink, so refrain from printing them out whenever possible.

Choose Laser Printers For B&W

It’s a good idea to use a laser printer for black and white printing jobs since laser printers don’t use maintenance ink and are great at printing out text.

Did You Know?

The Cheaper the Printer, the More Expensive the Ink

It’s no secret that while you can get a printer for really cheap, the ink is really expensive, and it’s nearly impossible to get away with using an “unofficial” printer cartridge. This is no accident: printer companies like HP have argued that it’s costly for them to research and develop the ink. Consumer Reports and eBay have great articles on how to save money and buy eco-friendly printers, respectively.

Your Printer May Be Wasting Ink