Why recycle with Stinkyink?
Stinkyink's main goal is for our used inks and toners to be refurbished, refilled, and reused so we're being a little bit kinder to the planet but also so that we can offer our customers the same great products, just remanufactured to give a new lease of life. However, some products are not able to be remanufactured but can still be recycled. We work closely with a specialist recycling facility that break these down and recycle them back into raw materials.
Printer ink cartridges and toners are classed as WEEE waste (Wasted electrical and electronic equipment). This means they cannot be recycled as part of your household waste so, please do not put used products in your home recycling bin. Depending on the condition of your cartridge or toner they will either be reused or broken down into raw materials and recycled. It is important to dispose of these items carefully so that they do not end up in landfill!
Here are the two methods of recycling, depending on the product you bought from us:
Freepost Recycling Scheme
This is the side you need if you received a recycling envelope!
Some cartridges can be reused and refilled, if your cartridges fit into this category, we will include a recycling bag in with your order.
Once they are empty, simply pop your used cartridge(s) in the envelope and post them to our recycling partners will take care of the rest.
Please avoid sending any packaging with your return. Only your ink cartridges themselves can be recycled by our partners.
Stinkyink Recycling Scheme
If you did not receive a recycling bag with your order, we can still help! Simply package them, add postage and send them to:
StinkyInk Recycling
Building 6, Unit 3
Stanmore Business Park
Bridgnorth, Shropshire
WV15 5HR
Please note this scheme is not freepost. We cover the recycling costs, so we ask you to cover the postage.
To recycle a large box of inks please send them to zero waste recycling.
A note on ink bottle recycling:
All ink bottles, whether original or compatible, can be placed in your regular recycling bin! Since they contain no electrical components and are simply plastic, they can be included with your usual plastic recycling. However, we recommend rinsing out any remaining ink first.
Startling facts about plastic waste:
- 10 million tons of plastic escapes into our oceans annually (equal to a bin lorry full per minute).
There will be more plastic in our oceans than fish by 2050! The volume of plastic ending up in the ocean every year could triple in the next 20 years meaning that in less than 30 years there would be more plastic in the sea than fish. However, by recycling plastic correctly we can significantly reduce this problem.
Plastic production has increased dramatically over the last 70 years. In 1950, the world produced just two million tonnes per year, it now produces over 450 million tonnes per year!
The Great Pacific garbage patch is now 1.6 million square kilometres which is 3 times the size of France. As more rubbish ends up in the ocean it continues to grow daily.
Recycle With Manufacturers
If you'd rather use your Manufacturer recycling scheme we've listed all of the available ones below. We aim to add and update them as details change.
Please note that you can only recycle original cartridges through these schemes, and they need to be the same manufacturer of the scheme you are using. So only send HP cartridges through HP's scheme for example.
Brother Printer Cartridge Recycling
Accepts: Ink cartridges, toner cartridges, printers, label rolls.
Brother have one of the simplest recycling schemes available. Visit the link below, fill in the relevant recycling form and they'll send you a pre-labeled envelope to post your item back in. The scheme supports both Inkjet and Toner recycling, as well as Brother printers, so there's no reason not to use it.
Canon Printer Cartridge Recycling
Accepts: Ink cartridges, toner cartridges, ink bottles.
Canon's cartridge recycling scheme has been around since 1990 and accepts a limited selection of Toners and Inks. Visit the link below, select your type of cartridge and check the cartridges you want to use are accepted in the scheme. You'll need at least 5 cartridges to use the scheme, otherwise it's easy peasy.
Dell Printer Cartridge Recycling
Accepts: Ink cartridges, toner cartridges
Dell recycling has always been simple, and most of the genuine Dell cartridges you purchase will already include pre-paid recycling bags. If you've misplaced yours though just head to the link below and follow the easy instructions to get your cartridges recycled for free.
Epson Printer Cartridge Recycling
Accepts: Ink cartridges, toner cartridges
Epson have a scheme designed around how many printers you own. Supporting both single-printer owners and those with over 10 Epson machines, you can even recycle from the large format Epson printers. Have your Epson printer model to hand and you're good to go.
HP and Samsung Printer Cartridge Recycling
Accepts: Ink cartridges, toner cartridges, print heads, ink bottles.
HP now owns Samsung so if you have cartridges for Samsung printers HP can help. This scheme allows you to recycle just one cartridge at a time instead of having to stockpile them if you're a home user, or arrange bulk returns for bigger businesses.
Konica Minolta Printer Cartridge Recycling
Accepts: Toner cartridges
Konica Minolta provide a free recycling service for their toner cartridges, but not for any other consumables at the moment such as drums.
Kyocera Mita Printer Cartridge Recycling
Accepts: Toner cartridges.
Kyocera Mita provide freepost details in the packaging of any genuine toner/waste bottle you purchase, so you should already have the details you need. All that's left to do is filling in a form at the below page to request an RMA code.
Lexmark Printer Cartridge Recycling
Accepts: Ink cartridges, Toner cartridges, Printers
Lexmark have a cartridge collection program found at the below link for different sized businesses. It boils down to different sized boxes you store your empty cartridges in before arranging a collection. If you're looking to recycle ink cartridges, each time you purchase a Lexmark original you will find freepost details included in the box!
Oki Printer Cartridge Recycling
Accepts: All genuine OKI Original consumables e.g. Toner cartridges, Imaging drums, Fuser Units, Transfer Belts, Waste Bottles, Ribbons.
Oki enable you to recycle pretty much anything and everything that goes into your printer. You can select either a freepost service for returns up to 5kg or weight, or heavier users can opt for an equally-free recycling bin programme.
OKI Cartridge Recycling
Panasonic Printer Cartridge Recycling
Accepts: Toner cartridges
Panasonic provide freepost recycling details in all of their genuine toner packaging so you should already have the details you need. If you misplace them you can request more freepost details at their link below.
Ricoh Printer Cartridge Recycling
Accepts: Toner cartridges
Recycling cartridges in the UK through Ricoh is a lot easier than it used to be. Previously it cost you upwards of £30 per box of cartridges! Now you can just register at the below link to get access to freepost details, far more environmentally (and financially) friendly.
Samsung Printer Cartridge Recycling
Accepts: Toner cartridges
Samsung used to have the snappiest recycling program name, S.T.A.R., standing for Samsung Takeback And Recycling Program. So S.T.A.R.P., but that's not as catchy. HP purchased their printing division though, so now the Samsung cartridge recycling scheme goes through HP's with a far less exciting name.
Samsung Cartridge Recycling (provided by HP)
Xerox Printer Cartridge Recycling
Accepts: Toner cartridges
Xerox's "Green World Alliance" gives you free recycling for your toner cartridges. Simply visit the link, select your relevant printer and consumables and you'll get easy and clear instructions to start recycling.
