Guidance

T16: treating toner and ink cartridges for reuse

T16 exemption allows you to treat waste toner or ink cartridges by sorting, cleaning, dismantling or refilling them.

Applies to England

There’s a charge for most waste exemptions

This exemption is in band 2.

Read waste exemption charges to find out what the charges and charging bands are.

Types of activity you can carry out

This includes cleaning and refilling waste toner cartridges so they can be reused.

Types of activity you cannot carry out

You cannot:

  • treat waste toner or ink cartridges that are hazardous waste
  • treat waste toner or ink cartridges to dispose of them to landfill or incinerate them

Types of waste you can treat

The waste codes are those listed in the List of Wastes (LoW) Regulations. You need to make sure your waste fits within the relevant waste code and description.

Waste code Type of waste
08 03 13 Waste ink not containing hazardous substances
08 03 18 Waste printing toner not containing hazardous substances
15 01 02 Plastic packaging
16 02 16 Cartridges not containing hazardous substances taken from discarded electrical equipment
20 01 39 Plastics

Amount of waste you can treat

You can store and treat up to 150 tonnes of cartridges at any one time.

Key conditions

The treatment must be carried out indoors.

The waste must be treated in a location with sealed drainage.

Other things you need to know

Any waste toner or ink produced from the treatment activity should be stored to prevent it being released into the environment.

S2 – storage of waste in a secure place.

Register a T16 exemption

You need to register this exemption with the Environment Agency if you meet the requirements.

Definitions

Hazardous waste – see how to classify different types of waste

Sealed drainage – a drainage system with an impermeable surface that makes sure that:

  • no liquid will run off the surface apart from through the system
  • except where they may be lawfully discharged, all liquids entering the system are collected in a sealed sump

Updates to this page

Published 28 April 2014
Last updated 1 July 2025 show all updates
  1. Updated with a link to new information about charges and charging bands for waste exemptions.

  2. Changed reference of 'dangerous substances' to 'hazardous substances' due to changes in the law.

  3. First published.

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