Brother 'Waste Toner Box Full': replacing the waste toner container

What causes it

• Normal accumulation of waste toner over tens of thousands of pages
• Heavy full-colour printing, which produces more waste than text work
• The waste box not seated properly so its sensor reads full
• A previous box refitted after being emptied, which the counter does not accept
• The sensor window on the box or in the machine obscured by toner dust

How to fix it, in order

Work down the list and stop when the printer recovers. The steps are ordered from most likely and least invasive to last resort.

1. Order the right waste box for your model

   Brother uses part numbers such as WT-220CL for the 3140 and 9330 family and WT-223CL for the L3200 and L3700 range. Check the number against your exact model before ordering, since the boxes differ in shape and sensor position between generations even when the machines look similar.

2. Open the machine and take out the drum drawer

   Switch the machine off and let it cool for a few minutes. Open the front cover and pull the drum unit drawer out until it stops. On most models you then lift it clear and set it on a flat surface out of direct light, because the four drums inside are photosensitive and lose sensitivity in bright daylight.

3. Remove the belt unit if your model requires it

   On several colour models the waste box sits beneath or behind the transfer belt. If so, lift the belt unit out by its green handle, keeping it level, and set it down on paper without touching the black belt surface. Note the orientation so it goes back the same way.

4. Lift the old waste box out carefully

   The waste toner box is a rectangular plastic container, usually with a green handle. Lift it straight out and keep it upright the whole time, since the contents are loose powder that will spread across a room if the box tips. Put it directly into the bag the new one came in.

5. Fit the new box and reassemble

   Take the new box out of its packaging, remove any protective tape, and lower it into place until it seats firmly. Refit the belt unit if you removed it, slide the drum drawer back in level, and close the front cover until it latches. The machine normally clears the message as soon as the cover closes.

6. Clean up any spilled toner properly

   If any toner escaped, wipe it up with a dry cloth or a damp cloth using cold water only, since warm water fuses toner into fabric. Do not use a household vacuum cleaner, because toner particles pass straight through domestic filters and can damage the motor.

7. Check the other parts life counters while you are here

   Look under Machine Information, then Parts Life, and note the belt, fuser, drum and laser unit counts. If several are close to their limits, you can plan the replacements together rather than opening the machine repeatedly, and you can weigh the total cost against the price of a new printer.

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