Staples Recycling Program 2026: What You Can Recycle, Fees, and Rewards

Staples has offered in-store electronics recycling for more than a decade, and it remains one of the easiest places to drop off old office tech. Every store takes computers, phones, cables, and ink cartridges at the front counter, of any brand and whether or not you bought them there.

The program has changed, though. Printers, monitors, and batteries now carry a fee in most states, and a lot of older articles online still describe the whole program as free. This guide covers what Staples recycles for free in 2026, what costs money and where, how ink cartridge rewards work, and what to do with the items Staples does not take.

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How Staples Recycling Works

Bring your items to the checkout or print and marketing counter at any Staples store. You do not need an appointment or a receipt. An associate checks that each item is accepted, rings up any fee, and keeps it for recycling.

Staples also runs an online tech recycling service for people who would rather mail their items in. Look for it on the recycling section of Staples.com.

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What Staples Recycles for Free

According to Staples’ recycling services page, the free list covers most of the tech you would find in a home office:

• Computers: desktops, Macs, laptops, MacBooks, tablets, iPads, and eReaders
• Computer gear: hard drives, flash drives, keyboards, mice, webcams, adapters, hubs, and computer speakers
• Phones and wearables: mobile phones, iPhones, smartwatches, earbuds, AirPods, headphones, and chargers
• Networking: routers, modems, and battery backup devices
• Office equipment: scanners, fax machines, shredders, label makers, laminators, calculators, and small servers
• Home and media: streaming devices, smart speakers, connected home devices, stereo receivers, CD and DVD players, and discs
• Other electronics: digital cameras, GPS units, gaming consoles and controllers, MP3 players, and coffee brewers under 40 pounds
• Ink and toner cartridges, including drum units
• Cables: USB, Lightning, and other cords

Staples also takes a few things you might not expect, including phone and tablet cases, smartwatch bands, bags and luggage, SodaStream CO2 cylinders, and school supplies like pens, markers, binders, and backpacks.

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What Staples Charges For

These items are accepted, but cost money in most states:

Item	Fee	No fee in
Printers and multifunction devices	$9.99 each	CA, CT, IL, NC, NJ, NY, PA, RI
Monitors up to 49 inches	$29.99 each	CA, CT, IL, NC, NJ, NY, PA, RI
Batteries, rechargeable and single-use	$2.99 per visit	CA, IL, MN, NY, VT
Document shredding	Priced per pound	Not waived

A few notes on these:

• Printers: if you live in one of the eight exempt states, recycling a printer at Staples is still free. Elsewhere, a free local recycler or Best Buy, which takes printers at no charge, may be the better deal. See our printer and ink recycling guide for more options.
• Batteries: the $2.99 fee is per visit, not per battery, so bring the whole jar at once. Staples is still one of the few retailers that takes everyday alkaline AA and AAA batteries. Home Depot and Lowe’s take rechargeables for free. Our battery recycling guide covers every option.
• Monitors: Staples takes monitors up to 49 inches. Larger displays need a local e-waste recycler.

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Does Staples Take TVs?

No. Televisions are not on Staples’ accepted list, and stores will turn them away. For a TV, use Best Buy’s recycling program, a county collection event, or a local e-waste recycler. Our guide to disposing of an old TV covers the free options.

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Ink Cartridge Rewards

Staples takes empty ink and toner cartridges of any brand for free. Members of the free Staples Easy Rewards program also earn points for each cartridge, currently worth roughly $2 to $2.50 apiece. There is a monthly cap on how many cartridges earn rewards, and the amount and cap have changed several times, so check the Easy Rewards terms before you bring in a big bag.

To earn rewards, recycle in store and give your Easy Rewards phone number or account at the counter. Bottled ink, like Epson EcoTank refills, and ribbons do not count as cartridges.

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What Staples Will Not Take

Anything not on the accepted list will be turned away. Common examples include:

• TVs of any size or type
• Large appliances, microwaves, and air conditioners
• Monitors over 49 inches
• Floor-standing office copiers
• Smoke detectors
• Car batteries and other large lead-acid batteries

For these, a local certified e-waste or household hazardous waste center is your best bet. Search your city on RecycleOldTech.com to find one nearby.

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Before You Drop Anything Off

Staples does not guarantee data destruction for recycled devices, so wipe them yourself first:

• Phones and tablets: sign out of your Apple or Google account, then do a factory reset.
• Computers: back up your files and use the built-in reset to erase the drive. Our computer and laptop recycling guide explains how.
• Printers: restore factory settings to clear saved Wi-Fi passwords and fax numbers.
• Batteries: tape the terminals of lithium and 9-volt batteries so they cannot spark in the bin.

If you have paper records to get rid of too, Staples’ shredding service lets you handle both in one trip.

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Staples vs. Best Buy

What you have	Staples	Best Buy
Laptop, phone, or tablet	Free	Free
Printer	$9.99 (free in 8 states)	Free
Ink and toner cartridges	Free, earns rewards	Free, no rewards
Monitor	$29.99 up to 49“ (free in 8 states)	$29.99 up to 50“ (Insignia and Dynex free)
TV	Not accepted	$29.99 up to 50“ in most states
Alkaline batteries	$2.99 per visit (free in 5 states)	Not accepted

Compare: Best Buy vs Staples vs ecoATM. Our Best Buy recycling program guide covers the other side of that comparison in detail.

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Quick Answers

Is Staples recycling free? For most electronics, yes. Computers, phones, tablets, cables, and ink cartridges are free. Printers ($9.99), monitors ($29.99), and batteries ($2.99 per visit) carry a fee outside a handful of exempt states.

Does Staples recycle electronics? Yes. Every Staples store takes computers, laptops, phones, tablets, accessories, and office electronics at the counter, of any brand.

Does Staples take old printers? Yes. Printers and all-in-ones cost $9.99 each, except in California, Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, where they are free.

Does Staples take old TVs? No. Staples does not accept televisions. Try Best Buy or a local e-waste recycler.

Does Staples recycle batteries? Yes, both rechargeable and single-use. There is a $2.99 fee per visit except in California, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont.

Does Staples take old computers? Yes, for free. Desktops, laptops, Macs, and their accessories are all on the free list.

Can I get money for recycling at Staples? Easy Rewards members earn points for recycled ink and toner cartridges, up to a monthly cap. Other electronics do not earn rewards.

Fees and accepted items can vary by store and state. Check Staples’ recycling services page or call your local store before you go.