What are the immediate consequences if Canon G3000 Error 5B00 is ignored and not reset or resolved?

If Canon G3000 Error 5B00 is ignored and not reset, the printer will become completely inoperable. It will typically refuse to print, scan, or perform any other function, effectively 'locking up' to prevent further use. This lockout is a safety mechanism to prevent the waste ink absorber from overflowing, which could lead to significant internal damage to the printer's electronics or mechanical parts, as well as messy ink spills onto the surrounding environment. The printer will remain unusable until the error is addressed, either by resetting the counter or, ideally, by replacing the waste ink pad.