Konica Minolta Waste Toner Box: When and How to Replace It

If your Konica Minolta bizhub printer is showing a waste toner box warning, you're not alone — it's one of the most common maintenance messages on Konica Minolta's color laser lineup. It's part of our full Printer Troubleshooting Center.

The Short Answer

A Konica Minolta waste toner box, labeled with a "WX-" part number on most bizhub models, collects the toner residue cleaned off the drum and imaging belt during printing. Once it's full, the printer stops and displays a message such as "Waste Toner Box Full" or "Replace Waste Toner Box" until it's swapped out. The replacement itself takes just a few minutes and doesn't require a service call.

What Triggers the Waste Toner Box Warning?

Konica Minolta bizhub printers track how much toner residue has built up in the waste box with an internal counter rather than a sensor you can see by eye. Once that counter reaches its limit, the control panel displays a warning and, on most models, the printer pauses printing entirely until the box is replaced. That lockout is intentional — printing with a full waste toner box risks toner residue leaking inside the machine and damaging the drum or transfer belt.

Common Konica Minolta Waste Toner Box Part Numbers

Konica Minolta uses a "WX-" prefix for its waste toner containers, and the correct part depends on your specific bizhub model. A few of the most common:

• WX-101 — bizhub C224, C284, C364 and related "e" series models
• WX-103 — bizhub C227, C287, C367
• WX-105 — bizhub C258, C308, C368
• WX-107 — bizhub C300i, C360i, C450i

Before ordering, check the label on your existing waste toner box or your printer's supply status menu to confirm the exact part number for your model, since Konica Minolta has used several WX- variants across its bizhub series.

Waste Toner Box vs. Toner Cartridge: What's the Difference?

These are two separate parts, and mixing them up is a common source of confusion. The toner cartridge supplies fresh toner to form the printed image, while the waste toner box collects the toner scraped off the drum and belt after that image transfers to the page. A "Replace Waste Toner Box" message won't go away no matter how much toner is left in your cartridges — the two are tracked entirely separately. For more on how printer consumables relate to one another, see our Printer Parts Glossary.

How Long Does a Konica Minolta Waste Toner Box Last?

Most Konica Minolta waste toner boxes are rated for roughly the same print volume as one or two toner cartridges, though this varies by model and print content — pages with heavier ink coverage, like photos or dense graphics, fill the waste box faster than mostly-text pages. In an office printing a moderate daily volume, a waste toner box commonly lasts several months to about a year before it needs replacing.

Replacing a Konica Minolta Waste Toner Box

1. Open the printer's front panel or side door according to your model's access point (check your printer's display for a diagram if unsure).
2. Locate the waste toner box, usually a black plastic container near the drum unit.
3. Gently pull the box straight out, keeping it level to avoid spilling loose toner.
4. Seal the used box in the bag provided with the replacement, if included, and set it aside for disposal or recycling.
5. Slide the new waste toner box in until it clicks into place.
6. Close the panel or door. Most bizhub models automatically clear the warning once the new box is detected.

FAQ

Can I empty and reuse a Konica Minolta waste toner box?

No. Konica Minolta waste toner boxes are sealed units without a safe way to empty and reset them, and doing so risks toner spills inside the printer. They're designed to be replaced, not emptied.

Will my printer keep working if I ignore the waste toner box warning?

Some models allow a limited number of pages after the first warning, but most bizhub printers will eventually stop printing entirely until the box is replaced, to prevent toner residue from leaking internally.

Where to Buy a Konica Minolta Waste Toner Box

Castle Ink is building out its own waste toner box inventory. In the meantime, you can browse Konica Minolta waste toner boxes on Amazon (as an Amazon Associate, Castle Ink earns from qualifying purchases). Double-check the part number (WX-101, WX-103, WX-105, WX-107, or otherwise) against your printer's exact model before ordering.

Have a different printer brand? See our general guide on What Is a Waste Toner Box? When (and How) to Replace It, or check out our full Printer Parts Glossary.