Electronics Recycling · Austin, TX
Printer Recycling in Austin
Before you go
Printers come apart into three streams, and separating them yourself is usually worth a credit.
Pull the ink or toner cartridges out
They're a separate program from the printer itself. Several office retailers pay a per-cartridge store credit, and a cartridge left inside is one nobody gets paid for.
Bag the toner cartridges on their own
Toner is a fine powder that leaks from a used cartridge and gets into everything it touches, including your car.
Empty the paper tray
Loose paper is ordinary curbside recycling. It adds weight to the thing you're carrying and does nothing for you at the drop-off.
Clear the memory on an office machine
A networked printer stores wifi credentials, address books, and often scanned-document caches. Factory-reset it from the front panel before it leaves the building.
Compare options
Printer Recycling in Austin
2 free · 2 fee-based
| Facility | Cost | Open now | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goodwill Central Texas - Dell Reconnect E-Waste | Free |
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| STS Electronic Recycling Inc.(512) 340-7393 | Free |
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| Paid or fee-based options | |||
| Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center(512) 974-4343 | Depends on the item |
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| Best Buy (Arboretum)(512) 795-0956 | Free for most |
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Where they are
Relative positions across Austin. Not a street map: use Directions on a facility page to navigate.
Free Fee or conditional 1 more listing is not plotted, 1 because it covers a whole metro rather than one address.
How it works in Austin
Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center accepts printers and fax machines free for residents by appointment. Staples accepts ink/toner cartridges free in-store (some locations offer Staples Rewards credit). Toner and inkjet cartridges can also be dropped at the Recycle & Reuse Center per Austin Public Library guidance.
Local rules
- Texas Recycles Computers Program (30 TAC Ch. 328, Subch. I): TCEQ requires computer manufacturers selling in Texas to offer free recycling of their own brand-labeled computer equipment to households.
- Texas Recycles TVs Program (30 TAC Ch. 328, Subch. J): TV manufacturers must register with TCEQ, file a recovery plan, and recycle a market-share allocation of CTE (covered television equipment) in Texas.
Travis County household hazardous waste
Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-Off Center
Central HHW hub for Austin & Travis County. Appointment required, released weekly. Free for residents.
13 more Austin rules, not specific to this item
- Texas does NOT have a paint stewardship law — PaintCare does not operate in Texas (as of 2026).
- Austin Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO): commercial properties, multifamily, and food-permitted businesses must provide recycling/organics access; annual diversion plans due Oct 1-Feb 1; violations are Class C misdemeanors up to $2,000/day.
- Austin Construction & Demolition Recycling Ordinance (2015): projects over 5,000 sq ft must reuse/recycle 50% of debris or dispose <2.5 lbs/sq ft.
- Austin City Code Ch. 15-6 (Solid Waste Services Administrative Rules) governs HHW handling and prohibits placing batteries and HHW in curbside recycling/trash carts.
- Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center is appointment-only — slots can be hard to get and are scheduled via the Austin Recycles mobile app or by calling 3-1-1.
- Austin's on-demand HHW curbside service is brand-new (January 2025), replacing the prior bulk/brush twice-a-year schedule with up to 3 service appointments per year per address.
- HHW curbside set-out rule: items must be staged OUT of direct sunlight (garage or porch) — the city explicitly warns about Austin heat causing reactions; NOT placed at the curb until collection morning.
- Austin Resource Recovery warns that batteries in curbside recycling carts have started truck/MRF fires in summer heat — the city actively campaigns to keep lithium-ion out of carts.
- City of Austin's Recycle & Reuse Center accepts HHW from Travis County residents free (Austin & county only); fees apply to non-residents and businesses cannot use the residential HHW service.
- Zero Waste by 2040: Austin City Council adopted 90% landfill diversion goal in 2011; 2023 Comprehensive Plan added 'aggressive milestones.'
- PaintCare absence: unlike Colorado, California, or Oregon, Texas residents cannot drop paint at hardware stores under PaintCare — all paint must go through municipal HHW.
- Large batteries (car, solar panel, EV) are explicitly excluded from APL library drop-off boxes — they require Recycle & Reuse Center appointment or manufacturer programs.
- Solar panel disposal fee schedule: first 2 panels under 100 lbs are free at the Recycle & Reuse Center, then $0.30/lb.
Other Austin programs
- Austin Resource Recovery On-Demand HHW Curbside CollectionCurbside pickup of paint, batteries, automotive fluids, aerosols, pool chemicals, pesticides, fluorescent bulbs, propane cylinders. Launched January 2025 as on-demand service. Up to 3 collections per address per year. 30-gallon total limit, no individual containers >5 gallons.3-1-1 (512-974-2000)
- Austin ReBlendFree 100% post-consumer recycled latex paint (low-VOC) made from HHW drop-offs. Available in three shades (Texas Limestone, Balcones Canyonland, Barton Creek Greenbelt) for residents, nonprofits, and businesses by appointment at the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center.512-974-4343
- Austin Public Library Battery Drop-Off NetworkHousehold battery collection at 20+ APL branches (look for 5-gallon black/gray buckets); does NOT accept large car or solar panel batteries.3-1-1
- Dell Reconnect via Goodwill Central TexasFree recycling of any-brand computer equipment (laptops, desktops, monitors, peripherals) at participating Goodwill Central Texas donation centers.
- Travis County 1431 Citizens Collection Center (Cedar Park)General household trash only ($4.33/cubic yard, Thu-Sat 8am-3:50pm); HHW for county residents is routed to the City of Austin Recycle & Reuse Center.
- Call2Recycle drop-off network (Austin)Rechargeable and single-use batteries (under 11 lb) at Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy, Staples and other retail locations citywide; terminals must be taped or bagged before drop-off.
- Travis County recycling locatorSearchable database of drop-off sites for paint, electronics, batteries, and other materials across Travis County.
Where this came from: 12 sources
- www.austintexas.gov/dropoff (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/resource-recovery/locations/recycle-and-reuse-drop-center (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/resource-recovery/programs/demand-bulk-brush-and-household-hazardous-waste-collection (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/batteries (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/reblend (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/uro (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/zerowaste (opens in a new tab)
- www.traviscountytx.gov/tnr/environmental-quality/conserve/disposal-recycling (opens in a new tab)
- www.tceq.texas.gov/p2/recycle/electronics (opens in a new tab)
- www.paintcare.org/paintcare-states (opens in a new tab)
- www.goodwillcentraltexas.org/about-us/dell-reconnect (opens in a new tab)
- locations.call2recycle.org (opens in a new tab)
Common questions
About Printer Recycling here
How much does Printer recycling cost in this area?
2 of 4 facilities (50%) offer free recycling for Printer. Facilities that may charge: Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center, Best Buy (Arboretum). Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center: Free for residents. Fees for tires, mattresses, large appliances.. Best Buy (Arboretum): Free for most items. $29.99 fee for TVs over 50" and large monitors..
Do I need an appointment for Printer drop-off?
1 facility requires an appointment: Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center. Best Buy (Arboretum), Goodwill Central Texas - Dell Reconnect E-Waste, STS Electronic Recycling Inc. accept walk-ins.
Is pickup available for Printer?
Most facilities require you to drop off Printer. Check individual listings for special arrangements.
Are there certified recyclers for Printer?
Yes. Local facilities hold certifications including: R2, NAID. These ensure responsible processing and, for NAID, verified data destruction.
Are there quantity limits for Printer drop-off?
Some facilities have limits: Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center: Residential quantities only Residential quantities; Best Buy (Arboretum): 3 items per day.