Pittsburgh Printer Recycling: Where to Take Old Printers and Ink

Printer hardware and cartridges take different paths

An old printer does not belong in Pittsburgh trash or the blue recycling bin. A consumer computer printer is a covered peripheral under Pennsylvania law, and the City directs residents to an electronics program.

Loose ink and toner are a separate decision. A recycler may accept the printer but not list cartridges. Retailers and manufacturers often accept cartridges even when you are not bringing the machine. Remove the cartridges and use a program that names them unless the printer recycler tells you to leave them installed.

Compare current Pittsburgh options

Option	Printer hardware	Loose ink or toner	Published cost	Before you go
Staples	Yes	Yes	Printer fee does not apply in Pennsylvania	Check store hours and current terms
Best Buy	Yes	Yes	Free resident drop-off	Check the three-item household limit and avoid outlet stores
Noble / City program	Yes	Not named on current accepted list	$0.35 per pound at drop-off	City residents; appointment required
PRC event	Yes	Not promised on specific 2026 fee list	$5 vehicle fee plus $5 per printer	Pre-register
Evolution E-Cycling	Yes	Yes	Call for current printer fee	South Side headquarters; call first
HP Planet Partners	No printer hardware on this cartridge page	Eligible Original HP and Samsung cartridges	Free drop-off or mail-back	Other brands are not accepted

These details were checked August 18, 2026. Retail hours, item limits, event capacity, and program fees can change. Use the live source before loading the printer.

Free retailer drop-offs

Staples

Staples recycling services list printers, multifunction devices, ink cartridges, toner cartridges, and drum units. Its national page displays a printer fee but states that the fee does not apply in Pennsylvania. Under the current published terms, a Pennsylvania printer drop-off is free.

Staples lists three Pittsburgh stores with recycling services:

• 6375 Penn Avenue, Suite B, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, 412-363-5148
• 4801 McKnight Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, 412-369-9660
• 6521 Steubenville Pike, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, 412-494-0658

Use the Pittsburgh store directory or call for same-day hours. Do not make a special trip based on an old rewards promotion. Cartridge acceptance is the useful fact; reward values and account limits change.

Best Buy

Best Buy’s resident recycling program currently accepts printers, scanners, fax machines, ink cartridges, and toner cartridges in store without a fee. The general limit is three qualifying items per household per day, and outlet stores do not participate.

The current Pittsburgh directory lists stores at 473 Clairton Boulevard, 4801 McKnight Road Suite 30, and 430 Home Drive. Check the live Pittsburgh store directory for hours and make sure the chosen location is a standard store rather than an outlet. The resident program is not a substitute for arranging a commercial office-equipment load.

City of Pittsburgh appointment options

Noble accepts printers in the City’s 2026 electronics program. The recurring appointment site is 3001 Railroad Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Register through Noble’s Pittsburgh page or call 412-567-6566.

The published drop-off price is $0.35 per pound for e-waste other than computers and laptops. Payment is by credit or debit card. Noble tells residents to load items in the trunk, rear hatch, or pickup bed so staff can unload and weigh them.

Home pickup has a $25 base service fee. The live catalog currently lists printer, scanner, or fax at $3 in addition to that base. A one-printer booking therefore starts with those two listed charges, but taxes, changes, or other load items can affect the total. Review the cart before paying.

The remaining posted City event is September 12, 2026 at Brookline Recreation Center, 1400 Oakridge Street. It also requires registration. Do not drive to an event or the Railroad Street site without a confirmed slot.

Noble’s current accepted list names printers but does not specifically name loose ink or toner cartridges. Use a retailer, Evolution, or the cartridge maker for those consumables unless Noble confirms acceptance.

PRC hard-to-recycle events

PRC’s remaining 2026 Allegheny County events are August 22 at Boyce Park and September 26 at Settlers Cabin Park, both from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required.

The PRC fee schedule lists a $5 participant fee per vehicle plus $5 per printer. A vehicle bringing one printer would therefore have $10 in those listed charges. PRC says fees and accepted materials may change, so confirm the registration summary. Put materials in the trunk or truck bed and stay in the vehicle while staff unload.

The specific 2026 item list does not promise loose ink or toner. Do not add cartridges to the load without checking the registration page or calling PRC at 412-488-7490.

Evolution E-Cycling for printers and toner

Evolution’s headquarters is 2235 Mary Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, with posted hours Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone: 412-390-3450. Its official pages say it accepts printers, scanners, fax machines, and all brands and types of ink and toner.

The City has published a $5 to $10 printer range for this location, but Evolution’s current site does not show a residential printer price. Call for the current fee and drop-off process. Do not take a printer to a Guardian partner site; the current local guidance directs printers to the South Side headquarters.

Evolution also addresses office imaging data. A multifunction printer or copier may contain an internal drive or memory that stores scans, print jobs, address books, fax history, and network settings. Ask what sanitization or destruction applies to your model and what documentation is available.

Mail back ink and toner to the maker

Manufacturer programs are useful when you have a few loose cartridges and do not need a local hardware drop-off.

HP Planet Partners accepts nearly all Original HP ink and toner cartridges and Samsung toner through free retail drop-off or prepaid mail-back. It does not accept other brands through that program.

Brother accepts genuine Brother ink, toner, drum units, and P-touch supplies through its return process. The company asks users to reuse replacement packaging and print the appropriate prepaid label. Follow the maker’s current quantity and packaging rules; do not put several unrelated brands in a box under one label.

For another brand, start with the manufacturer’s support or sustainability page. A store that sells a cartridge is not necessarily obligated to accept every brand or commercial quantity.

Prepare the printer before recycling

1. Cancel ink subscriptions, cloud-printing plans, and automatic supply orders.
2. Remove the printer from the maker account and app.
3. Delete stored Wi-Fi settings, address books, fax logs, saved scans, and user accounts using the model’s reset instructions.
4. For a copier or multifunction unit with sensitive records, ask whether it has an internal drive and request documented sanitization or destruction if needed.
5. Remove paper, labels, USB drives, memory cards, and accessories you plan to keep.
6. Remove ink or toner if the chosen programs route cartridges separately. Bag or box cartridges upright to contain leaks; do not puncture or open them.
7. Secure trays, lids, and the power cord for transport, then confirm the final fee and appointment.

If the printer works, a school, nonprofit, or reuse organization may be interested, but ask first. Do not leave it outside a donation center. A model with expensive, unavailable cartridges may not be useful even if it powers on.

For other office equipment, the computer recycling guide covers desktops, monitors, reuse, and data services. The 2026 electronics guide compares mixed-load drop-offs, pickup, and events. The electronics trash and recycling rules explain the curbside restriction.

Primary sources

• Pittsburgh E-Waste and HHW Recycling Programs

  Noble Environmental · Retrieved 2026-08-18

• Recycling Services

  Staples · Retrieved 2026-08-18

• Electronics and Appliances Recycling at Best Buy

  Best Buy · Retrieved 2026-08-18

• Printer, Scanner and Fax Recycling

  Evolution E-Cycling · Retrieved 2026-08-18

• Copier Ink and Toner Recycling

  Evolution E-Cycling · Retrieved 2026-08-18

• Hard to Recycle

  Pennsylvania Resources Council · Retrieved 2026-08-18

• Ink and Toner Cartridge Recycling

  HP · Retrieved 2026-08-18

Frequently asked questions

Can I put a printer in Pittsburgh trash or recycling?

No. Pittsburgh directs residents not to put printers in ordinary trash or the blue recycling bin, and consumer computer printers are covered peripherals under Pennsylvania law.

Is printer recycling free at Staples in Pennsylvania?

Staples currently accepts printers and multifunction devices in store and says its national printer fee does not apply in Pennsylvania. Confirm the store's same-day hours and current terms.

Where can I recycle loose ink and toner cartridges?

Staples, Best Buy, and Evolution list loose ink or toner acceptance. Manufacturer programs such as HP Planet Partners also accept eligible house-brand cartridges by drop-off or mail.

Can a printer store personal information?

A connected multifunction printer may retain network settings, address books, fax logs, scans, or files on internal storage. Cancel subscriptions, remove the account connection, reset the device, and ask about documented destruction for sensitive equipment.