Properly disposing of your printer, cartridges, and other accessories helps keep the environment safe
It’s the circle of life: Your printer has served you faithfully for years, but now it’s time to upgrade. Unfortunately, getting rid of your old printer isn’t as easy as tossing it in the trash can.
Printers, like many electronic devices, must be specially recycled so their components don’t harm the environment. The following guide will break down why printer recycling is so important and offer suggestions of convenient locations near you that will help send your printer off to greener pastures.
Learn more about the fundamentals of these essential office companions in our guide, How Do Printers Work: Everything You Need to Know.
Jump to a section:
Why is printer recycling important?
There are many benefits of printer recycling:
- The printer still works. Sometimes, there’s nothing wrong with your current printer — you just want to upgrade. Donating or recycling your old printer ensures someone can use it for the remainder of its operating life.
- The printer requires minor repairs. Some old, non-working printers only need a new part or some cleaning to become operational again. By properly recycling your printer, your trash can become someone else’s treasure.
- Non-working printers still contain valuable parts. Even if your printer is not fixable, it can be salvaged for parts to restore other printers.
- Printers contain toxic and hazardous materials. Electronics such as printers have components with chemicals that can leak over time. If haphazardly disposed of, these chemicals can leak into landfills, damaging the environment. This is especially true if the printer contains lithium-ion batteries, which are highly flammable and can harm people and the environment if improperly disposed of.
Did You Know?:The RICOH C125 P offers simple set-up and easy access to toner, making cartridge replacement quick and easy.
How to prepare a printer for recycling
Printers are not complex devices and can be relatively easy to recycle. The most critical aspect of preparing a printer for recycling is to remove any secondary accessories or devices from the printer. Be sure to check for the following and remove them:
- SD cards
- USB drives
- Detachable power cables
- Paper from storage trays
- Toner cartridges
- Ink cartridges
Removing these accessories ensures you can hang onto the items your business can still use. Plus, many recycling centers have rules on which components they can take. For example, they may be able to recycle the main printer unit but might not be able to handle printer toner cartridge recycling.
Where can I recycle my printer or ink and toner cartridges?
Several methods exist for properly recycling your printer and cartridges, from in-person drop-off locations to mail-in programs. Here are just a few.
RICOH Recycling Program
As part of its commitment to reducing its impact on the environment, RICOH offers a free recycling program for its customers.
RICOH has partnered with AnythingIT to allow customers to recycle old and unused RICOH products, including printers, through a mail-in program. Simply fill out the online form to receive a prepaid FedEx shipping label. Bring the pre-packaged device and label to a FedEx drop-off location and affix the label to the box. AnythingIT will then recycle the printer once it is received.
Local e-waste recycling depots
Many states and local governments offer electronics recycling programs in partnership with public or privately owned recycling depots. These locations are designed to take in various electronics and repair, repurpose, or dispose of these devices.
Before bringing your printer to one of these locations, check online or contact them directly for more information. Many recycling facilities have rules on when the public can drop items off. Some have open drop-off times, while others require arranging an appointment. Many facilities also have specific regulations regarding which devices they will take. For example, one location may be willing to accept your printer for recycling, while another may not.
Donation drives and non-profit organizations
If your printer is still in working order, consider donating it. National and local charity organizations often accept donations of electronics like printers. These groups will either re-sell the working printer to fund their non-profit operations or recycle it for you if it doesn’t work.
Like recycling depots, each organization has rules on what they will or won’t accept. These rules often vary between organizations or even locations within the same organization. Check the group’s website to see if they take printers before bringing yours to the donation drop-off.
Also, different organizations may allow you to claim a tax deduction for your donation or offer coupons on future purchases within their store. Contact the location before donating to find out if there are any additional tax benefits you can receive for your donation.
Big-box stores
Many national big-box retailers like Staples and Best Buy are increasing their commitment to reducing e-waste and protecting the environment. As a result, they are now offering electronic recycling drop-off locations. Simply bring in your printer, drop it off at the requisite location, and it will be disposed of. Most retailers will usually just take the printer off your hands, but some may offer store credit or coupons for recycling with them.
If you or your business needs to recycle a larger printer or have several devices to recycle at once, some retailers offer recycling pick-up services to aid you. A fee may be associated with the service depending on the retailer, so be sure to contact the location before scheduling a pick-up.
Did You Know?:The RICOH C125 P printer offers business-quality color duplex printing with USB, WiFi, and ethernet connectivity. Click here to learn more.
Our recommendation: RICOH Printer C125 P
Before recycling your old printer, it’s vital to have an efficient, long-lasting replacement lined up. The RICOH C125 P Color Laser Printer offers superior yet economical print quality. It’s capable of print speeds of up to 26 color pages per minute with rapid double-sided printing, all while providing crystal-clear text and image reproduction. And with an estimated toner cartridge life of over 2,000 pages, you can save money while reducing your environmental impact.
