The printer finally died. Maybe it jammed one too many times, maybe it just stopped talking to your laptop, or maybe you replaced it with something that actually works. Either way, you've got a box of plastic and circuit boards sitting in your garage and no obvious place to take it. In Killeen, the answer is simple — Best Buy takes it for free. Here's the full picture.
Can You Put a Printer in the Curbside Bin?
No. The City of Killeen prohibits disposing of electronics in your curbside solid waste cart or in the city's recycling bins. Printers contain lead, mercury, and other materials that can't go into regular solid waste. The city's recycling trailers and the Killeen Recycling Center at 111 E. Avenue F accept paper, cardboard, plastics #1 and #2, glass, and metal — that's it. Electronics are not on the list.
The Transfer Station at 12200 State Highway 195 handles furniture, construction debris, and general household waste — but it is not permitted to accept hazardous or special waste, and electronics fall outside its accepted items list. Don't make that drive expecting to drop a printer there.
Best Buy Killeen — Free Drop-Off, No Purchase Needed
Best Buy runs the most straightforward electronics recycling program available to Killeen residents. They accept printers, scanners, and fax machines for free at the store — no new purchase required, no appointment, no questions. Walk in, hand it over at the customer service area, done.
| Center | Address | Phone | Hours | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Buy Killeen | 3209 E Central Texas Expy, Killeen, TX 76543 | (254) 680-4040 | Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm | Free |
Best Buy's recycling program is compliant with the Texas Computer Equipment Recycling Act, which requires manufacturers to provide free collection and recycling options for Texas households. The program is for residential customers only — items from businesses or organizations are not accepted.
Along with the printer itself, Best Buy also accepts ink and toner cartridges for free, as well as other computer peripherals — cables, keyboards, mice, hard drives, laptops, and tablets. Three items per household per day is the limit across all categories combined.
Staples Killeen — Another Option Worth Knowing
Staples runs a national electronics recycling program that accepts printers, computers, monitors, small electronics, rechargeable batteries, and ink and toner cartridges. The Killeen location is at 3901 E Stan Schlueter Loop, Suite 100.
| Center | Address | Phone | Hours | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staples Killeen | 3901 E Stan Schlueter Loop, Ste 100, Killeen, TX 76542 | (254) 598-4893 | Call ahead to confirm | Free (cartridges); call ahead for printer drop-off |
What About the Killeen Recycling Center?
The Killeen Recycling Center at 111 E. Avenue F does not accept electronics. Its accepted materials are paper, cardboard, plastics #1 and #2, glass bottles and jars, and steel, tin, and aluminum cans. That's the full list per the city's official solid waste page. Printers, monitors, and other e-waste are not in scope there. Don't make the drive expecting otherwise.
Ink and Toner Cartridges
Both Best Buy and Staples accept ink and toner cartridges for free, separately from the printer itself. If you're upgrading printers and have a pile of old cartridges, either store is a convenient stop. Best Buy counts cartridges toward the three-item daily household limit. Staples has historically offered store rewards for cartridge recycling through its rewards program — confirm with the Killeen location when you call.
Common Mistakes
Putting the printer in the curbside bin. It won't get collected, and it may cause your bin to get flagged. Electronics don't belong in solid waste.
Driving to the Killeen Recycling Center. It accepts recyclables only — paper, plastic, glass, metal. No electronics. Confirmed per city's official page.
Assuming the Transfer Station takes it. The Transfer Station handles general solid waste and C&D debris. Electronics are outside its accepted items. Don't haul out there for a printer.
Not wiping data before recycling. Printers with built-in memory — most modern inkjets and lasers have it — store copies of recently printed documents. Do a factory reset before dropping it off. Check your printer's manual for the reset procedure; it's usually in the settings menu.
Tex's Take
Best Buy is the move. It's free, it's close, and they take the cartridges too so you can clean out the whole printer drawer in one trip. Staples is a backup if Best Buy's inconvenient for your side of town — but call first. The city's own recycling program simply doesn't cover electronics, so stop waiting for a municipal solution that isn't coming.
One thing people skip: the factory reset. A printer that sat in a home office for five years has printed bank statements, tax documents, and who knows what else. Wipe it before it leaves your hands.
FAQ
Where can I recycle an old printer in Killeen for free?
Best Buy at 3209 E Central Texas Expy accepts printers for free with no purchase required. Limit is three items per household per day. Staples at 3901 E Stan Schlueter Loop also participates in a national printer recycling program — call (254) 598-4893 to confirm availability before visiting.
Can I put an old printer in my Killeen trash bin?
No. The City of Killeen prohibits electronics in curbside solid waste or recycling bins. Printers must go to a certified e-waste recycler or retailer recycling program like Best Buy.
Does the Killeen Recycling Center accept printers?
No. The Killeen Recycling Center at 111 E. Avenue F accepts paper, cardboard, plastics #1 and #2, glass, and metal only. Electronics are not accepted. This is confirmed per the city's official solid waste page as of June 2026.
Can I recycle ink cartridges in Killeen?
Yes. Both Best Buy and Staples in Killeen accept ink and toner cartridges for free. Best Buy counts them toward the three-item daily household limit. Staples has historically offered store rewards for qualifying cartridge returns — confirm with the Killeen store.
Do I need to do anything before recycling my printer?
Do a factory reset to clear any stored document memory. Most modern printers store copies of recently printed pages in internal memory. Check your printer's settings menu or manual for the reset procedure. Remove any ink or toner cartridges if you want to recycle those separately or keep them.
Data last verified June 2026 against Best Buy's official recycling page, the City of Killeen solid waste department (killeentexas.gov), and confirmed Staples Killeen location via Yellow Pages. Hours and program details can change without notice. Call ahead before making a trip.
Conclusion
Recycling a printer in Killeen comes down to one address: Best Buy at 3209 E Central Texas Expy. Free drop-off, no receipt required, and they take the cartridges while you're there. The city's recycling program doesn't cover electronics, and neither does the Transfer Station. Don't overthink it — just wipe the printer first and drop it off.
Dealing with other electronics in the same cleanout? The same Best Buy drop-off handles laptops, monitors, and cables. For a look at how another Texas city handles printer recycling with similar retailer options, see Where to Recycle an Old Printer in Beaumont, TX. And if you're clearing out bulk household items at the same time, the Killeen mattress disposal guide covers what the Transfer Station and curbside pickup will and won't take.
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