Cartridge Recycling & Responsible Disposal

Q. What should I do with my used or empty Ink and Toner Cartridges

A. You can easily recycle used printer ink and toner cartridges in Australia through free national retail drop-offs, council recycling centres, or workplace collection programs. Avoid disposing cartridges in general household garbage bins, since this sends hazardous residues and recoverable materials straight to landfill. Also never place them in your household recycling bin, as residual ink or toner may contaminate other recyclables.

Dispose of Your Cartridges Responsibly

Used printer cartridges contain plastics, metals, and residual inks that can be harmful if sent to landfill. Responsible disposal helps protect the environment and supports Australia's circular economy goals.

Below are verified options for recycling or disposing of used ink and toner cartridges in Australia.

Australia's Product Stewardship Framework

The Australian Government's Product Stewardship Act 2011 provides a framework for managing the environmental, health, and safety impacts of products — including printers and related consumables. Under this framework, industry-led recycling programs have been established to responsibly handle printer cartridges at end of life.

For more information, visit the Australian Government Product Stewardship page.

Approved Cartridge Recycling Programs

Cartridges 4 Planet Ark

Cartridges 4 Planet Ark is Australia's largest free cartridge recycling/collection program, operating in partnership with major brands and retailers. It accepts most brands of ink and toner cartridges at no cost.

What's accepted: Used/empty original brand Inkjet and toner/laser cartridges, as well as toner bottles, fuser & drum units, print heads.
How to recycle: Drop off small quantities of cartridges at a retail collection point near you. Collection boxes are available at participating retailers such as Officeworks, Office National, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, The Good Guys and Australia Post. Retail drop off points accept an extensive range of cartridges brands. However, not all drop off points accept generic (non OEM) cartridges. Check the conditions required by your local drop off point.
Find a drop-off point: Check the Planet Ark drop-off locator
Bulk collection for Workplace and School. If your workplace, school or community group uses more than three cartridges per month, you can register online with Cartridges 4 Planet Ark to receive a free collection box. Once the box is full you can schedule a free pickup, or use the Reply-Paid Australia Post label.

Generic and Compatible Cartridges

Unbranded third-party compatible cartridges, also called generic or non-OEM cartridges, may not be accepted at standard Planet Ark retail drop-off points. If you have these cartridges and your local retail drop-off bins reject them, check at your point-of-purchase for a suitable recycle or e-waste program or or dispose of them through you nearest e-waste recycler.

Close the Loop

Close the Loop is the Australian recycling company processing printer cartridges, and other consumables collected by Planet Ark, thereby diverting materials from landfill and recovering them for reuse in road construction and other applications.

Manufacturer Take-Back Schemes - for Original (OEM) cartridges only

Some cartridge manufacturers operate their own recycling programs. Check with your cartridge brand directly for details:

Brother: Contact Brother Australia for current recycling options
Canon: Contact Canon Australia for current recycling options
Epson: Contact Epson Australia for current recycling options
HP: HP Planet Partners Program

Manufacturer programs may vary and availability can change — always check the manufacturer's website for current information before sending cartridges.

Tips for Responsible Disposal

Store used cartridges in a sealed bag to prevent ink leakage before drop-off
Do not throw cartridges in your general household bins — they require specialist processing
Check that your cartridge type is accepted before dropping it off at a collection point
Bulk cartridges from schools and workplaces can often be collected directly — contact the programs above for business collection options

Council Household Hazardous Waste Programs

Many local councils across Australia also offer Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off events or permanent facilities that may accept printer cartridges and other consumables. Contact your local council or visit Sustainability Victoria (for Victorian residents) or your state's equivalent environment authority for local options.

A Note About Our Store

InkStore Plus is committed to helping customers find responsible end-of-life solutions for cartridges. If you have questions about recycling options for products purchased from us, please contact us and we'll do our best to point you in the right direction.

This page links to third-party recycling programs for your convenience. Program availability, accepted cartridge types, and drop-off locations are managed by those organisations and may change. Always verify details directly with the program provider before visiting a drop-off point.

Trademarks are the properties of their respective holders and referred to in this guide for descriptive purposes only. This article has been compiled with assistance from AI.