Printers are one of those items that seem to pile up in offices and homes without anyone quite knowing what to do with them. They are awkward to move, often too outdated to donate, and surprisingly complex when it comes to recycling. But disposing of an old printer correctly is important for both environmental and, in some cases, data security reasons.
What Makes Printers Problematic as Waste?
Printers are a mixed bag of materials. A typical office printer contains plastics, metals, glass, rubber rollers, motors, circuit boards, and residual ink or toner. Each of these materials needs to be handled differently during recycling, which is why printers cannot simply be tossed in a general waste bin.
The specific hazards depend on the type of printer:
Inkjet printers contain ink cartridges with liquid ink that can leak and contaminate waste streams. The ink itself contains solvents and dyes that should not enter waterways or soil.
Laser printers contain toner cartridges filled with fine toner powder. Toner particles are extremely small (typically 5-8 microns) and can be a respiratory irritant if inhaled. Laser printers also contain a fuser unit that operates at high temperatures and may contain ceramic or glass components.
Large multifunction devices (MFDs) combine printing, scanning, copying, and sometimes faxing into one unit. These are essentially small computers with a print engine attached, containing hard drives or flash memory that may store copies of every document ever scanned or printed.
The Hidden Data Risk in Office Printers
This is something most people do not think about, but it is critically important for businesses. Modern network printers and MFDs are essentially computers with their own processors, memory, and storage. Many models store a complete copy of every job they process on an internal hard drive.
That means your old office printer might contain copies of every document printed, scanned, or copied over its entire service life. Financial reports, employee records, client contracts, medical records, legal documents, all of it potentially sitting on an unencrypted drive inside a machine that is about to be disposed of.
Under the Privacy Act 1988, organisations have an obligation to destroy personal information stored on devices being decommissioned. This obligation extends to printers and MFDs with internal storage. Before recycling any network printer, either wipe the internal storage using the manufacturer’s built-in security erase function, or ensure your ITAD provider includes printer drives in their data destruction scope.
For more on data obligations during IT disposal, see our guide to data breach prevention through proper disposal.
Step-by-Step: Preparing a Printer for Recycling
1. Remove Ink or Toner Cartridges
Always remove cartridges before recycling the printer. Ink and toner cartridges have their own recycling streams and should not be left in the machine. Most office supply retailers accept used cartridges for recycling, and some manufacturers operate free return programs where you can mail back empty cartridges.
Toner cartridges in particular are highly recyclable. The plastic shells can be cleaned, refilled, and reused multiple times, and the metal and plastic components are all recoverable at end of life.
2. Check for Internal Storage
If your printer is a network-capable model or a multifunction device, check the manufacturer’s specifications to see whether it has an internal hard drive or flash storage. If it does, use the built-in security erase function (usually accessible through the admin menu on the printer’s control panel) before disposal.
3. Remove Paper and Packaging
Empty all paper trays, remove any jammed paper from the paper path, and take out any packaging materials that might be inside (manuals, setup guides, accessory bags). These go in your regular paper recycling.
4. Keep Cables Attached or Bundled
Power cables and USB cables can be recycled with the printer or separately. If you are dropping the printer at a collection point, it is usually easiest to just leave them connected or tape them to the unit.
Where to Recycle Printers in Australia
Council e-waste drop-off points accept printers at transfer stations across most municipalities. These services are free for residents and typically accept printers of any type and size. For large commercial MFDs, check with the facility first as some have weight or size restrictions.
Professional e-waste recyclers handle printers of all types and sizes, including large commercial MFDs that weigh over 100 kilograms. They will collect from your premises and provide disposal documentation. This is the recommended route for businesses disposing of multiple printers or any printer with internal storage.
Manufacturer programs vary by brand. HP’s Planet Partners program accepts HP and non-HP printers for recycling. Brother, Canon, and Epson all have cartridge recycling programs, though whole-printer recycling options vary.
Cartridge Recycling: A Quick Guide
Printer cartridges deserve their own mention because they are one of the most recyclable items in the e-waste category and also one of the most commonly wasted.
Australians use approximately 30 million printer cartridges per year, and the majority end up in landfill despite being readily recyclable. An inkjet cartridge takes over 400 years to decompose in landfill, and a laser toner cartridge over 1,000 years.
What Happens to Recycled Printers?
At a recycling facility, printers are manually dismantled into their component material streams. The plastic casing is separated by polymer type (most printers use ABS or HIPS plastic). Metal components including motors, frames, and springs are sorted for ferrous and non-ferrous recycling. Circuit boards go to precious metal recovery. Rubber rollers and belts are separated. Glass from scanner beds is recovered where possible.
The complexity of a printer, with its mix of materials, motors, sensors, and mechanisms, makes automated dismantling difficult. This is one category of e-waste where manual processing by trained technicians remains the standard approach, which is one reason why professional recycling services are important.
For the full picture on electronics recycling processes, read our complete guide to e-waste recycling in Australia.
Reducing Printer Waste in the First Place
The best e-waste is the waste that never gets created. Businesses can significantly reduce printer-related waste by adopting managed print services that optimise fleet size, shifting to digital workflows that reduce printing volumes, choosing printers with long service lives and readily available parts, and selecting models with high-yield cartridge options that produce less packaging waste per page.
Many organisations that audit their printing find they have far more printers than they actually need. Consolidating to fewer, more capable devices reduces both operational costs and eventual disposal volumes.
EWV helps Victorian businesses manage e-waste and IT asset disposal compliantly and sustainably — including collection, certified data destruction, and recycling. Contact us for a free quote.