You know that rage-inducing moment when your $50 printer demands $200 worth of ink? Los Angeles City Council just voted unanimously to target that exact predatory system. On January 30, 2026, the city advanced a framework banning single-use printer cartridges that can’t be refilled, remanufactured, or properly recycled—and this isn’t just environmental theater.
The Ban Targets Landfill Nightmares
The ordinance specifically targets cartridges mixing plastics, metals, and chemicals that break down slowly in landfills. Part of LA’s ambitious zero-waste plan targeting near-total elimination by 2045, this framework addresses what Councilmember John Lee called a “simple way to keep building on our environmental achievements.”
Those counterfeit and clone cartridges cluttering recycling streams? They’re getting the boot too. The framework requires cartridges to be either refillable, remanufactured, reused, or covered by vendor take-back programs to remain legal for sale within city limits.
Manufacturers Have Been Playing Defense for Years
The printer industry’s razor-and-blade model makes Netflix’s subscription increases look generous by comparison. HP famously called users of non-HP ink cartridges a “bad investment,” while all major manufacturers deploy DRM, firmware updates, and subscription schemes to disable third-party refills.
Some printers even block scanning functions when ink runs low—because apparently your ability to photocopy depends on cyan levels. These manufacturers have settled lawsuits without admitting fault while continuing to restrict consumer choices through technical barriers.
Enforcement Faces Real-World Hurdles
This ban only covers LA city limits, leaving obvious workarounds through online retailers and trips to Burbank. The ordinance still needs full approval to become law, and manufacturers maintain official recycling programs that technically comply with current requirements…