Los Angeles Moves Toward Banning Single-Use Printer Ink Cartridges
, by Planet Green, 2 min reading time
In December 2025, the Los Angeles City Council took a major step toward becoming the first city in the United States to ban the sale of single-use printer ink cartridges that cannot be reused, recycled, or remanufactured. (Cite: The Recycler)
The council voted unanimously to instruct the City Attorney’s Office to draft an ordinance that would prohibit the retail and online sale of certain ink cartridges within city limits. If adopted, the ordinance would take effect approximately 12 months after final approval.
What Would the Ban Cover?
Under the proposed language, the ban would apply to cartridges that meet any of the following criteria:
- They cannot be refilled, remanufactured, or reused.
- They are not accepted by a legitimate take-back or recycling program.
- They violate applicable laws (including intellectual property protections).
This definition is intentionally broad to target products that are effectively “single-use” - meaning they are sold, used once, and then discarded without a viable recycling or reuse pathway.
Printer cartridges are difficult to recycle through typical municipal programs because they contain plastic, metal, and chemical components that many curbside systems can’t process. According to city officials, these cartridges often end up in landfills, where they can leach harmful substances.
The proposed ban is part of a broader environmental push in Los Angeles that has included restrictions on single-use plastics and other waste reduction efforts. If adopted, it would signal a significant shift toward policies that encourage circular economy practices and reduce the environmental impact of consumer products.
Next Steps in the Legislative Process
With the City Council’s direction secured, the City Attorney’s Office and Los Angeles Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) are now working on draft ordinance language and a public education plan. The proposal will return to committee before going to a full council vote for final approval.
If approved, the ordinance could be implemented roughly one year later, giving retailers and consumers time to adjust.
What It Means for Ink Cartridge Recycling & Remanufacturing
Although this policy currently applies only to Los Angeles, it illustrates a growing interest among local governments in regulating single-use materials that lack recycling pathways. For recycling and remanufacturing industries, such measures represent both a challenge and an opportunity: reducing waste while highlighting the importance of cartridges that can be remanufactured and reused.
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