How it works
If your workplace, business, community group, uni or school uses more than three (3) inkjet, toner cartridges or toner bottles in a month you may be eligible for a Cartridges 4 Planet Ark collection box.
If your workplace is unlikely to return the minimum number of cartridges, we encourage you to use the drop-off boxes in our retail collection partners (participating Officeworks, Australia Post, The Good Guys, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Office National and Cartridge World outlets). Find your closest drop-off box here.
You can also call 1800 24 24 73 or complete the registration form.
Our participating manufacturers, Brother, Canon, Epson, HP or Kyocera, cover the cost of collecting, transporting and recycling their own cartridges as well as promoting the program to workplaces like yours and to the general public.
When you put a cartridge from a supporting brand - Toshiba, Fuji Xerox Australia, Samsung, Sharp, Dell, Konica Minolta or Lexmark - into one of our boxes, that manufacturer covers the cost of recycling their cartridge. Some of these manufacturers also have their own collection programs.
But if you put a cartridge from any other manufacturer or a compatible brand in a collection box, these are not paid for but the cost is borne by Close The Loop and the program generally. You can help us make sure we can continue to provide a recycling service by reducing the number of non-participating manufacturers' cartridges in your collection boxes.
If your workplace uses lots of these cartridges you could:
- Contact the manufacturer to see if they run their own collection program; or
- Switch machines to one of the manufacturers who are taking responsibility for their cartridges
This program has been established to collect and recycle cartridges from end users only. We cannot accept printer cartridge waste from commercial recyclers or brokers.
Once you have received your workplace box you can download our promotional resources to inform your colleagues about the program.
All inkjet cartridges, toner cartridges and toner bottles can be placed in the Cartridges 4 Planet Ark box.
Accepted items includes:
- Mixed cartridges
- Inkjet cartridges
- Laser cartridges
- Unused cartridges
- Toner bottles
- Fuser and drum units
- Print heads
- Waste hoppers / containers collectors & kits
Once the bag inside your box is full of cartridges, tie it off with one of the cable ties provided. (For easy access the spare bags and ties should be left in the bottom of the box).
To return your bag of cartridges, send it back through Australia Post using the Reply Paid sticker affixed to the bag. You can either:
1. Take the bag to your internal mail room to be processed along with your other mail. Your Australia Post contractor will pick up the bag and it is sent through Reply Paid post at no cost to you; or
2. Take the bag to your local Australia Post outlet and it will be returned via Reply Paid (no cost to you)*.
3. Metropolitan customers can also book their collections online through Close the Loop's website or by calling 1800 24 24 73 to arrange a courier pick-up within five days. We would like to encourage you to book your collections when you have two or more full bags ready to go. This ensures the process is economically more efficient and better for the environment through the reduction in carbon emissions from transport. You need to know your company ID number to arrange a bag collection online. If you don't know your company ID number, please email info@closetheloop.com.au and it will be sent to you.
All registered Workplace Collection points can receive Resource Recovery Certificates that outline the weight of cartridges collected and returned.
These certificates can be used to report on the positive environmental impact that your workplace has achieved by participating in ‘Cartridges 4 Planet Ark’.
They can also be used to motivate and encourage staff and clients to recycle even more. To request a certificate, simply email CSTeam@closetheloop.com.au
Example of a Resource Recovery Certificate
