How to Recycle Printers
Inkjet, laser, and all-in-one printers. Cartridges have their own take-back path. The printer body is e-waste at retail or municipal programs.
Quick answer
Pull ink or toner first and recycle cartridges through HP Planet Partners or office stores. Drop the printer at Best Buy (free) or Staples ($9.99; fee waived in CA, CT, IL, NC, NJ, NY, PA, RI). Wipe networked MFPs that store jobs.
- Recyclable
- Yes
- Typical value
- Home printers are usually $0 at drop-off; working business units may resell
- Donate / take-back
- Available
- 1Remove ink and toner cartridges; recycle them separately
- 2Remove paper from trays
- 3Disconnect cables and clear Wi-Fi settings on networked models
- 4On business MFPs, clear job history or remove internal storage
- 5Bag toner spills; avoid inhaling dust
- Best Buy (printers free, residential)
- Staples ($9.99 or waived in listed states)
- Dell Reconnect
- HP Planet Partners (hardware and cartridges)
- Municipal e-waste events
Empty cartridges are not curbside plastics. Use HP Planet Partners, Staples, or other cartridge programs. Staples charges $9.99 per printer in most states and waives that fee in CA, CT, IL, NC, NJ, NY, PA, and RI. Best Buy lists printers free for residents.
Recycling recovers plastics and metals from the chassis. Empty ink and toner belong in cartridge take-back, not curbside plastics. Leaving toner loose in trash spreads dust and wastes remanufacture feedstock.
- Donate working home printers to schools or nonprofits
- Return empty HP cartridges through Planet Partners for free mail-back or drop-off
- Reset network and Wi-Fi settings
- Clear stored fax/scan history if the menu allows it
- Remove hard drives or memory from business MFPs when present
Accepted
- Inkjet and laser printers
- All-in-one printer/scanners
- Units with or without power cords
Not Accepted
- Open leaking toner dumped loosely
- Large commercial copiers without prior approval
Estimated value: Home printers are usually $0 at drop-off; working business units may resell
Donation
- Local schools and nonprofits (working units)
- Toner dust (avoid inhaling)
- Lead solder on circuit boards
- Batteries in some wireless models
What do I do with empty ink or toner?
Use HP Planet Partners, Staples cartridge recycling, or another maker program. Do not put empties in curbside plastics.
Why does Staples charge for printers?
Staples lists printers and MFPs at $9.99 each in most states. That fee is waived in CA, CT, IL, NC, NJ, NY, PA, and RI. Best Buy lists many printers free.
Can I recycle a non-HP printer through HP?
HP cartridge programs focus on Original HP supplies. For the printer body, use Best Buy, Staples, Dell Reconnect, or municipal e-waste. HP hardware take-back is oriented to HP equipment and volume rules.
Do home printers store personal data?
Most home inkjets store little. Business MFPs may keep jobs on internal storage. Clear history or remove drives before recycling those.
Recycling centers that accept Printers
RecycleFind lists recycling centers that accept printers. Open a listing for hours, contact info, and directions.