Where and how to recycle empty ink and toner cartridges in Spain
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Summary: Empty ink and toner cartridges do not go in the trash: they are waste that must be recycled. In Spain you can do this for free at municipal civic amenity sites, in Tragatinta and Tragatóner containers (Recyclia network with thousands of points in large stores) and in many computer stores. Recycling never costs money. This guide tells you where to take them, how to prepare them and why the compatible cartridge is, furthermore, the most sustainable option.
Every year millions of cartridges are discarded in Spain. A cartridge takes hundreds of years to degrade and contains plastics, metals and ink or toner residues that should not end up in a landfill. The good news: recycling them is free, fast and there are collection points almost everywhere.
Why they should not be thrown in the trash
An empty cartridge is a waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) or assimilable waste, and as such is subject to separate collection. Throwing it in common trash is incorrect: its materials are recoverable and its residues can contaminate. European waste regulations (Directive 2012/19/EU, transposed in Spain) establish that these products must be collected and treated separately.
Furthermore, an empty cartridge is not trash: it is raw material. The casing can be cleaned, replenished and reused—that is remanufacturing—or dismantled to recover plastics and metals.
Where to recycle ink and toner cartridges in Spain
| Collection point | How it works |
|---|---|
| Municipal civic amenity sites | Each municipality has at least one. They accept ink and toner cartridges for free. Check the hours and location on your city council's website. |
| Tragatinta and Tragatóner (Recyclia) | Network of specific containers in large stores, shopping centers, offices and public buildings. Its website has a postal code search engine to find the nearest point. |
| Computer and stationery stores | Many shops that sell printers and cartridges have a collection bin on their premises. |
| Manufacturer programs | HP, Canon, Brother and others offer prepaid envelopes or return points for their consumables. |
No one should charge you for recycling a cartridge. Collection is a free service both at municipal civic amenity sites and in the containers at large stores. If someone asks you for money to accept them, it is not a legitimate recycling point.
How to prepare the cartridges before taking them
- Do not empty or disassemble them. They are recycled as they are, with their ink or toner residues.
- Keep them in a bag to avoid staining, especially toner, which is a very fine powder.
- If you keep the box or the original packaging, better: it protects the cartridge during transport.
- Do not mix cartridges with common trash "just in case": take them whole to the collection point.
Recycle, remanufacture and compatibles: the complete cycle
There is a difference that is worth understanding. Recycling is recovering the materials of a cartridge at the end of its life. Remanufacturing is something more valuable: taking an empty original casing, cleaning it, replacing worn parts, refilling it and returning it to the market as a functional product. It is real circular economy: the same cartridge body lives several times.
That is why choosing certified compatible and remanufactured cartridges is not just cheaper: it extends the useful life of each cartridge and reduces waste compared to always buying new single-use cartridges.
The commitment of Star Toner
Star Toner is part of the Recycop Group, dedicated to the management and valorization of consumables since 1998. We operate with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification (quality management and environmental management), which means that the traceability and environmental impact of each cartridge are audited. Recycling and remanufacturing are not a marketing add-on: they are the very origin of the business.
If you want to go a step further in reducing waste and spending, calculate how much you would save per year with compatible consumables in our savings calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I recycle empty ink and toner cartridges?
At municipal civic amenity sites (at least one per municipality), in Tragatinta and Tragatóner containers distributed throughout large stores and public buildings, in many computer and stationery stores, and through the manufacturers' own return programs. All these options are free.
Can I throw an empty cartridge in the normal trash?
No. An ink or toner cartridge is waste subject to separate collection: its materials are recoverable and its residues can contaminate. It must be taken to a civic amenity site or a specific cartridge container.
Does it cost money to recycle cartridges?
No. Recycling cartridges is a free service, both at municipal civic amenity sites and in containers at large stores. If someone charges you to accept them, it is not a legitimate recycling point.
Do I have to empty or clean the cartridge before recycling it?
No. Cartridges are recycled as they are, with their ink or toner residues. It is only advisable to keep them in a bag so they do not stain during transport, especially toner, which is a very fine powder.
What is the difference between recycling and remanufacturing a cartridge?
Recycling is recovering the materials of a cartridge at the end of its life. Remanufacturing is taking an empty original casing, cleaning it, replacing worn parts, and refilling it to return it to the market as a functional product. Remanufacturing extends the life of the cartridge and generates less waste.
Are compatible cartridges more eco-friendly?
Yes. Certified compatible and remanufactured cartridges use casings that would otherwise be waste and reduce the manufacture of new single-use cartridges. It is circular economy: the same cartridge body is used several times.
Keep reading on Startoner
- Counterfeit vs compatible cartridges: the difference that matters
- How to extend the life of your toner and ink cartridges
- The real cost of printing: honest math per page
- Transparency · CHICTRATEC S.L., Recycop Group, ISO 9001 + 14001
- Full catalog of certified compatibles
Last update: May 2026. Startoner, Central Warehouse, Calle Océano Atlántico 38, 11379 Los Barrios, Cádiz. CHICTRATEC S.L. (NIF B72834534), part of the Recycop Group founded in 1998.