Printer recycling statistics: U.S., global, and New York facts.
Reliable numbers are useful when you are writing about old printers, electronics, reuse, and recycling. This reference collects the clearest available figures, with the original source and date beside each claim.
Last updated November 3, 2026. Global and U.S. figures describe broader electronics categories where printer-only data is not publicly reported.
The numbers behind the next move for old equipment.
Printers are part of a bigger electronics story, but the practical decision stays local: identify the equipment, keep reusable items moving, and use a verified recycling route when reuse is no longer realistic. The facts below separate global scale from U.S. collection data and New York rules.
Global electronics recycling facts.
of e-waste was generated worldwide in 2022.
The Global E-waste Monitor reports this is equal to 7.8 kg per person. This measure covers end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment, not printers alone.
Source: Global E-waste Monitor 2024, reporting 2022 data ↗was documented as formally collected and recycled in an environmentally sound way in 2022.
That figure measures documented formal collection and recycling, not every possible reuse or informal recovery route.
Source: Global E-waste Monitor 2024, reporting 2022 data ↗is the projected global e-waste total for 2030.
The projection comes from the Global E-waste Monitor 2024 and shows why reuse and a clear end-of-life path matter before devices become scrap.
Source: Global E-waste Monitor 2024, 2030 projection ↗U.S. consumer electronics facts.
of consumer electronics were generated in the United States in 2018.
The EPA's selected consumer electronics category includes computer equipment and other consumer devices. It is the agency's latest comparable national figure, rather than a printer-only count.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2018 data ↗of selected consumer electronics were recycled in the United States in 2018.
EPA reports this as a 38.5% recycling rate for its selected consumer electronics category.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2018 data ↗A 100-pound cutoff matters for New York printers.
New York State lists a printer intended for use with a computer and weighing less than 100 pounds as covered electronic equipment. The same page lists label printers, document scanners, and 3-D printers under that computer-peripheral category when they meet the same use and weight conditions.
New York's program requires manufacturers to provide free and convenient recycling to most consumers. Its definition of consumer includes individuals, many businesses, schools, nonprofits, and government entities. Larger for-profit businesses with 50 or more full-time employees and larger nonprofits may be charged, and premium services can carry a fee.
Equipment type, weight, brand, and pickup needs can change the route. Confirm acceptance before loading a printer into the car.
Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, covered-equipment list last updated December 31, 2024 ↗Cite this page.
iBuyPrinters. “Printer Recycling Statistics: U.S., Global, and New York Facts.” Updated November 3, 2026. https://ibuyprinters.store/printer-recycling-statistics
For the underlying figures, please link to the primary source shown under the statistic as well.
Useful equipment deserves a clear next step.
For printers, scanners, electronics, and surplus in the Rochester area, start with model numbers, quantities, condition notes, and photos.