The Brother recycling program lets US customers return empty Brother toner cartridges, drum units, ink cartridges and P-touch supplies at no cost. Log in to your Brother account, print a free prepaid USPS return label, pack the empty in the box your new cartridge came in, and hand it to the Postal Service. Some toner boxes include a prepaid UPS label instead.
What the Brother recycling program accepts
Brother's US recycling page asks for "an empty Brother supply or cartridge (ink, toner, drum, P-touch)". That covers most of what a Brother laser printer uses up, but not everything.
| Item | Covered? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brother toner cartridges (TN) | Yes | Standard, high, super and ultra high yield, black and color |
| Brother drum units (DR) | Yes | Mono drums such as the DR730 and color drum units |
| Brother ink cartridges | Yes | From Brother inkjet printers |
| Brother P-touch supplies | Yes | Label tape cassettes |
| Waste toner boxes, belt units | Not listed | Check with Brother support or a local recycler |
| Cartridges from other brands | Not listed | Use that maker's program or a local recycler |
The program is for US customers. Brother runs separate programs in other countries through its regional websites.
How to recycle Brother toner cartridges, step by step
- Keep the packaging from your new cartridge. Brother asks you to repackage the empty item using the packaging from the new one, so do not throw away the carton or the plastic bag when you unpack a replacement.
- Remove the empty cartridge. On most Brother lasers the toner sits in the drum unit; take the assembly out, push down the green lock lever and lift the toner out. Our guide on how to change the toner on a Brother printer walks through it model by model.
- Bag it. Slide the empty cartridge into the plastic bag from the new cartridge and fold or tape it closed. Even "empty" cartridges hold some loose toner.
- Look for a UPS label in the box. Brother includes a prepaid UPS return label in select toner boxes. If you find one and your business already ships with UPS, use it and add the package to your normal pickup.
- Otherwise, print a USPS label. Go to Brother's recycling page, log in to your Brother account (or create one), and print a free prepaid USPS Consumable Return Program label.
- Pack and label. Put the bagged cartridge in the new cartridge's carton, tape it shut and attach the label securely.
- Ship it. Hand the box to your USPS carrier or drop it at a post office location.
Two rules from Brother's page are easy to miss: generate a new label for each shipment, and never photocopy or reuse a label, which is against USPS regulations.
How to return a Brother drum unit
Drum units such as the DR730 go back the same way. Take the toner cartridge out of the old drum first, because you will normally keep using that toner in the new drum. Pack the drum in the carton the new drum came in, which is sized for it, and use the protective bag if one was included. A drum is larger than a toner cartridge, so check the box closes flat before you attach the label.
Returning several cartridges
Brother's US instructions say to generate a new label for each shipment, and they do not say how many items one box may hold. The safe approach for an office that goes through several cartridges a month: keep the cartons, and send each one with its own label as it empties, or ask Brother support before combining items in a larger box. Either way the shipping is free, so there is no saving in waiting.
How to dispose of Brother toner cartridges without the program
If you cannot use Brother's mail-in program, for example for a waste toner box or a non-Brother cartridge, you still have good options:
- Local e-waste or household hazardous waste drop-off. Many US cities and counties accept toner cartridges at these sites. Rules vary, so check your local waste authority's website.
- Office-supply retailers with in-store collection. Many large office-supply chains accept empty ink and toner cartridges at the counter.
- A commercial recycler. Larger offices can arrange pickup through a recycling or document-destruction vendor that handles cartridges.
- The maker's own program. HP, Canon and Xerox run their own return programs for their cartridges; see how to recycle HP and Canon toner cartridges.
Never burn a toner cartridge or put it in an incinerator or compactor: fine toner powder is combustible. Whether a cartridge may go in household trash depends on local rules, but recycling is the better choice when a free option exists. For waste toner boxes specifically, see our waste toner box guide.
Handling tips before you ship
- Do not open, shake or try to empty the cartridge. Loose toner gets everywhere.
- Keep the cartridge level while you bag it, with the opening side up.
- If toner gets on your skin or clothes, brush off what you can and wash with cold water; warm water can set toner.
- Clean spills with a damp cloth, not a household vacuum.
Recycle, refill or reuse?
Recycling through Brother sends the cartridge back to the manufacturer, which says it reduces landfill waste by reusing parts and recycling materials. Refilling at home is messy and rarely gives full yield, and remanufactured cartridges are a separate product category. Our guide to empty toner cartridges compares the options.
You also cut waste at the source by buying larger cartridges: one high-yield TN760 prints the pages of 2.5 standard TN730s, and a TN850 replaces more than two and a half TN820s. Fewer cartridges per year means fewer boxes to ship back.
Every genuine Brother cartridge qualifies
Because the program accepts empty Brother supplies, every genuine cartridge you buy from GS TONER can go back through it, from the TN830XL for the HL-L2460DW family to the TN920XL and color cartridges such as the TN227 for the MFC-L3770CDW. Our cartridges ship factory sealed in Brother's own cartons, so you always have the right box for the return.
The short version: keep the new cartridge's box, bag the empty, use the UPS label if your box has one, otherwise print a free USPS label from your Brother account, and ship it. For anything the program does not list, use a local e-waste site or the maker's program.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Brother recycling program free?
Yes. Brother provides a free prepaid USPS return label through your Brother account, and some toner boxes include a prepaid UPS label. You pay nothing to ship empty Brother cartridges back.
How do I return a Brother toner cartridge?
Put the empty cartridge in the bag and carton from your new cartridge, print a free USPS Consumable Return Program label from your Brother account (or use the UPS label included in some boxes), attach it and hand the package to the carrier.
Does Brother recycle drum units?
Yes. Brother's US program lists drum units along with toner, ink and P-touch supplies. Remove the toner cartridge from the old drum first, then pack the drum in the new drum's carton and ship it with a prepaid label.
Do I need a Brother account to recycle cartridges?
Yes, to print the free USPS label you log in to your Brother account or create one. If your toner box includes a prepaid UPS label, you can use that label instead.
Can I put Brother toner cartridges in the trash?
It depends on local rules, but recycling is the better choice because Brother's program is free. Never burn a cartridge. For items the program does not list, use a local e-waste drop-off or an in-store collection point.
