ASK
Is your printer beyond use? Or could you repair, or donate it? If it has to go, remove ink cartridges and memory cards. Restore the printer to its factory settings to wipe data (see below).
How to recycle printers and printer cartridges
You can recycle printers just as easily as printer cartridges. Here’s how.
How to recycle your old printer
Inkjets, laserjets and all-in-one printer-scanner-copiers of all brands and sizes can be recycled.
BAG IT
Bag up your old printer and cables until you’re ready to recycle it – or until collection day, if you have one.
CHECK
Enter your postcode in our electrical recycling locator to find your nearest donation or recycling point. You’re all queued up to recycle your old printer.
Recycling locatorWhat to do with old printers: other ways to recycle
Pause – before recycling your old printer, here’s what else you could do with it.
Repair
If your printer has developed a fault that basic troubleshooting doesn’t fix, check our guide to repairing electricals.
Donate
If your unwanted printer is in working order, someone else might be able to use it. Read our page on how you could donate your printer to charity.
Sell
Perhaps you could find a buyer via local notice boards or online marketplaces. See our guide to turning old electricals into cash.
Still want to recycle your printer?
No problem. Printers contain precious materials which can be put to good use. Find your nearest electricals recycling point here.
How to recycle a printer but keep your data safe
Some printers store data after being switched off or disconnected from a computer. WiFi- or Bluetooth-enabled printers, for example, might keep your network’s connection details. To be safe, factory reset your printer – check the maker’s documentation on how to do this.
For more on securing your data, see our guide:
How do I delete my data?Where to recycle printers you’re replacing
Use our recycling locator to find your nearest reuse and recycling point.
Or, if you’re going shopping, bear in mind that retailers now take back old electricals when you’re buying new. And some larger stores will recycle your old tech even if you’re not buying.
In other words, it’s getting easier all the time to recycle printers and other electricals.
More on appliance recycling at retailers
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