Don't Trash Them — Three Free Ways to Recycle
Ink and toner cartridges don't belong in household trash or curbside recycling. Instead, choose whichever of these is most convenient: (1) drop them at an office or electronics retailer such as Staples, Office Depot/OfficeMax or Best Buy; (2) use a free manufacturer mail-back program; or (3) look up the nearest drop-off by ZIP code on the Earth911 locator. Original-brand cartridges have the most options, while refilled, leaking or damaged cartridges are often rejected.
Staples: Earn Rewards for Recycling
Staples accepts empty inkjet and laser toner cartridges of any brand — original or compatible — at the front counter of its US stores. Free Staples Easy Rewards members earn points for each cartridge recycled, up to a monthly cap, with no purchase required to earn the recycling reward. Because reward amounts and limits change often and vary by state, confirm the current offer with your store or on the Staples website before counting on a specific figure.
Office Depot / OfficeMax
Office Depot and OfficeMax take empty cartridges of any brand at the register for free Rewards members; damaged cartridges are excluded. Their program pays a per-cartridge reward up to a monthly limit, but — unlike Staples — it typically requires a qualifying purchase in the same month for the reward to pay out. As with Staples, verify the current reward and purchase requirement before you go, since the terms change.
Best Buy: Free, No Reward
Best Buy recycles ink and toner at the Customer Service counter for free, with no payment or store credit. Cartridges should be intact, not refilled and not leaking. Toner is accepted at all stores; inkjet acceptance varies by location, so confirm locally. Best Buy's standard limit of three recycling items per household per day applies.
Manufacturer Mail-Back (HP, Canon, Epson, Brother)
All four major printer makers offer free mail-back recycling with prepaid shipping. HP Planet Partners (hp.com/recycle) lets you print a free prepaid label and covers all fees, but accepts Original HP ink and toner (plus Samsung-branded toner) only — not third-party or refilled cartridges. Canon provides free prepaid UPS labels for toner and drop-off collection for inkjet. Epson sends a free recycling kit with a prepaid label. Brother offers free downloadable prepaid labels for toner cartridges and drum units. Each program generally accepts only its own brand.
What About Walmart — and What Qualifies?
There is no confirmed nationwide Walmart ink-cartridge recycling program as of 2026; acceptance is inconsistent and store-specific, so don't rely on it — call your local store first. In general, manufacturer mail-back programs take only their own brand, and leaking, refilled or physically damaged cartridges are usually rejected everywhere. Retailer drop-offs (Staples, Best Buy) are the most flexible, accepting any brand including compatibles.