We’ve all been there before: you’ve just swapped out your old, empty ink cartridges for new ones, and as usual, those old cartridges end up sitting there on your desk forever. Eventually, you decide to dispose of them, but you know you shouldn’t just throw them away in the bin. Even for people who print regularly, knowing how to dispose of ink cartridges properly isn’t always obvious. 

Thankfully, ink cartridge disposal in Australia is relatively simple. Rather than putting used cartridges in your rubbish or recycling bin, you can use a dedicated cartridge recycling program and drop-off points. Here’s what you need to know about how to recycle ink cartridges, where to take them, and what happens afterwards. 

Why Should You Recycle Ink Cartridges?

Printer cartridges contain a mix of plastics, metals, and other materials that can all be potentially recovered and reused. They may also contain residual ink or toner, so they’re not quite the same as that used-up water bottle in your car! Recycling cartridges gives these materials a chance to be recovered rather than simply becoming general waste or, worse, ending up in landfills. 

It’s also an easy habit to develop. Instead of tossing an empty cartridge into the bin every time you replace one, try keeping a small box or container near your desktop printer and collecting your empties until you’re ready to send them off. For Australian households and businesses, ink cartridge recycling is one of the simplest ways to reduce the amount of printer-related waste sent to landfills.

Can you put ink cartridges in the bin?

As a rule of thumb, you really shouldn’t put used ink cartridges in your recycling bin. Your curbside recycling collection is designed for the materials accepted by your local council’s recycling system. Printer cartridges are better handled through a dedicated cartridge recycling program.

Instead, set aside your empty cartridges and take them to a suitable collection point. It takes very little effort and gives the materials inside the cartridge a better chance of being recovered.

How to Dispose of Ink Cartridges in Australia

So what should you do once your ink or toner cartridge runs out? Depending on your inkjet printer model and ink technology, the process may vary. But generally speaking, disposing of your old ink cartridges is fairly simple!

Follow these steps.

1. Remove the empty cartridge

Remove the cartridge from your printer, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

There’s no need to dismantle, puncture, or rinse the cartridge. In fact, taking a cartridge apart can create an unnecessary mess and potentially damage components that could otherwise be recovered. Remove the entire cartridge from your printer in one piece.

2. Collect your used cartridges

If you’re not heading straight to a recycling point, collect and store your cartridges in a dry, secure place. A small cardboard box is ideal for collecting several cartridges at home or in the office. Keeping them together also makes it much less likely that an empty cartridge will accidentally end up in the general rubbish. Keep your empty cartridges somewhere special where you won’t forget to collect them.

3. Find a cartridge recycling drop-off point

CartridgesDirect is proud to support Cartridges 4 Planet Ark in its mission to reduce environmental damage. By participating in our free printer cartridge recycling program, you can support us too. All cartridges returned through this program are returned to Close the Loop. 

Once returned, printer cartridges are stripped down to their base components before being shredded.

4. Drop them off!

Once you’ve collected your empties, simply take them to the appropriate collection point.

That’s it! No complicated preparation, no need to separate every cartridge by brand and no reason to keep a growing pile of empties gathering dust in the cupboard.

Disposing of your used cartridges responsibly is as easy as 1-2-3!

What Happens to Ink Cartridges When They’re Recycled?

Ever wondered where your old ink cartridges actually go after you drop them off for recycling? Recycling facilities usually sort and process collected cartridges to recover different materials and components where possible. Depending on the cartridge and the recycling process used, this can include separating plastics, metals, and other components, as well as managing residual ink and toner.

The goal is to recover useful materials and turn them into new products or materials rather than sending the entire cartridge to a landfill. This is why dedicated cartridge recycling is preferable to simply treating an empty cartridge as ordinary household waste.

What about toner cartridges and waste toner bottles?

If you use a laser printer rather than an inkjet printer, you’ll be dealing with toner cartridges instead of ink cartridges. The same basic principle applies: don’t assume an empty cartridge belongs in your household recycling bin. Look for an appropriate recycling or return program for your particular consumable.

It’s also worth remembering that laser printers can produce other consumables, including waste toner bottles. If you’re unsure what to do with them, check out our waste toner bottle guide for more information. When it’s time to replace them, you can browse compatible toner cartridges for your printer.

Can you recycle compatible ink cartridges?

Yes, compatible cartridges may be recyclable, but whether a particular cartridge is accepted depends on the recycling program and the cartridge type. Keep in mind that a compatible cartridge isn’t necessarily a disposable one. Compatible, genuine, remanufactured and refilled cartridges can all have different designs and recycling requirements.

If you’re unsure whether your cartridge is accepted, check the collection program’s requirements before dropping it off. You can also contact our team for specific advice about recycling your cartridges. If you’re comparing replacement options, you can browse CartridgesDirect’s range of compatible ink cartridges, including cheap ink cartridges for a wide range of printers.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions we receive about disposing of printer cartridges.

Can you put ink cartridges in your household recycling bin?

It’s generally better not to put printer cartridges in your household recycling bin. Instead, use a dedicated cartridge recycling program such as Cartridges 4 Planet Ark or another appropriate recycling service.

Where is my nearest ink cartridge recycling drop-off point?

You can use the Cartridges 4 Planet Ark collection-point information to find participating drop-off locations. Local recycling services and some retailers may also accept used cartridges, so it’s worth checking what’s available in your area.

Can compatible or refilled ink cartridges be recycled?

Many compatible, remanufactured and refilled cartridges can be recycled, but acceptance depends on the cartridge and recycling program. If you’re unsure, check your chosen collection service’s requirements.

Is ink cartridge recycling really free in Australia?

Cartridges 4 Planet Ark provides a free cartridge recycling service through its network of participating collection points. However, other recycling services may have different conditions or fees, so check before using an alternative service.

What happens to ink cartridges once they’re recycled?

Cartridges are collected, sorted and processed, with materials such as plastics and metals separated where possible. Recovered materials can then be used to manufacture other products.

How should a business dispose of a large number of cartridges?

Businesses should keep used cartridges separate from general office waste and establish a regular recycling process. For larger volumes, investigate whether a dedicated collection service is available for your workplace.

Give Your Empty Cartridges a Second Life at CartridgesDirect

A full cartridge might keep your printer running, but an empty one doesn’t have to end up in the trash! Properly disposing of ink cartridges doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep your empty cartridges out of household recycling and general waste bins, store them safely, and use a dedicated cartridge recycling program when you’re ready to drop them off. 

And when it’s time to replace those empty cartridges, CartridgesDirect sells a wide range of printer cartridges online, including genuine and compatible options for different printers. After disposing of your used cartridges, stock up on more online at CartridgesDirect.