Most homes have a drawer full of old phones, tangled chargers and a laptop that stopped working years ago. Those items feel too useful to throw out and too broken to keep. The good news is that recycling them is easier than many people think. In most parts of Australia it costs nothing to drop them off.
Electronics hold a mix of valuable and hazardous materials. Sending them to landfill wastes the useful parts and lets the harmful parts leak into soil and water. A little planning turns that cluttered drawer into a clean, safe handover. This guide covers what counts as e-waste, where it can go and how to protect your data first.
What counts as e-waste
Sustainability Victoria describes e-waste as any item with a plug, battery or power cord that is no longer working or wanted. That is a wider net than most people expect. It takes in phones, laptops, fridges, microwaves, power tools, toys and fluorescent lamps. If it once needed power to run, it probably belongs in the e-waste pile.
Sustainability Victoria also says e-waste is growing three times faster than any other waste stream. It contains materials that are both potentially hazardous and valuable. Neither of those belongs in a landfill cell. Treating old electronics as a resource rather than rubbish is the simplest change a household can make.
Why electronics should stay out of your bins
Old devices should never go in your general rubbish or kerbside recycling bin. Victoria has banned all e-waste from landfill since 1 July 2019, and the Sustainability Victoria e-waste guide explains where items can go instead. Other states have their own rules and programs. Your local council website is the best place to check what applies where you live.
Batteries are the biggest worry in bins. Woollahra Council in Sydney reported two fires in waste collection vehicles that appear to have been caused by batteries. The council notes that batteries can contain toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury. Lithium ion batteries can also catch fire if they are damaged or overheated.
The free national scheme for TVs and computers
Televisions and computers have their own national program. The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme started in 2011 under the Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011. It covers TVs and computers, including printers, computer parts and peripherals. The Australian Government regulates it and industry pays for it.
According to the Western Australian Waste Authority, the scheme offers more than 1,800 collection services to the public. It reports that about 290,000 tonnes of e-waste have been collected and recycled. More than 90 per cent of materials are recovered each year. Those numbers show how much value sits inside old screens and keyboards.
The federal fact sheet for householders says there are no fees at a scheme collection service. That applies to households and small businesses. Other services outside the scheme may charge a fee. Your council can tell you about local drop off points, and the Recycling Near You directory lists them by suburb.
Phones, batteries and other small items
Small items often have their own dedicated drop off options. Many of these programs are free for households. Sustainability Victoria lists these common programs for household gear:
- Mobile phones, chargers and accessories through MobileMuster, which accepts all brands for free
- Household batteries through the B-cycle scheme, which lists drop off points online
- Light bulbs and fluorescent tubes at most council transfer stations
- Car batteries and whitegoods through sites listed on Recycling Near You
Woollahra Council asks residents to tape over battery terminals with clear adhesive tape before disposal. This applies to both large and small household batteries. Place each battery carefully into a collection bin without dropping it. Vapes contain lithium ion batteries too, so they should never go in household bins.
Larger items such as electric bikes and scooters need separate handling. Check with your council before you load one into the car. Some councils run drop off days for bulky batteries and vapes. Woollahra Council, for example, places small battery bins in its libraries.
Wipe your data before you let go
Old phones and laptops can still hold photos, passwords and banking details. The Australian Cyber Security Centre warns that cyber criminals can easily recover data that has not been securely erased. A few minutes of preparation protects you. Its guide to disposing of a device securely sets out the steps.
Start by backing up anything you want to keep to a cloud service or external drive. Move any authenticator apps to your new device. Remove the old device from trusted lists on accounts such as your Apple ID or Google Account. Then take out SIM cards, memory cards, USB sticks and discs.
Once that is done, perform a factory reset to wipe your information. Peel off any labels or stickers that show who owned the device. For very sensitive data, the centre suggests a data destruction service or an IT professional. After that, the device is ready for recycling or a new owner.
Reuse and repair come first
Recycling is a good last step, but keeping a device in use is even better. If an item still works, Sustainability Victoria suggests giving it to friends or family or selling it second hand. A spare laptop can become a homework computer. An older phone can serve as a music player or a backup alarm.
The same thinking helps when you renovate. Old rangehoods, ovens and dishwashers often come out during a lower waste kitchen renovation, and they can go to whitegoods recyclers. Exhaust fans and heated towel rails from eco friendly bathroom renovations count as e-waste too. Plan where each item will go before demolition starts. That keeps the skip bin cleaner and cheaper.
Electronics depend on mined metals, so every device kept in use has a story that starts underground. If that interests you, read about biodiversity protection in Australian mining. Households that invest in solar energy systems will also replace inverters and other gear over time. Ask your installer how old parts will be handled when they are swapped out.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put an old phone in my recycling bin?
No, phones should stay out of kerbside bins because their batteries can start fires. MobileMuster accepts all brands of phones, chargers and accessories for free. Remove your personal data first.
Does it cost money to recycle a TV or computer?
Not at a service run under the national scheme. The federal fact sheet says there are no fees for households or small businesses at scheme collection points. Services outside the scheme may charge.
Are smoke alarms e-waste?
In Victoria, domestic smoke alarms are excluded from the e-waste ban. Sustainability Victoria says they can go in the rubbish bin. Check with your council if you live in another state.
What should I do with old batteries?
Tape over the terminals with clear tape and take them to a battery collection bin. The B-cycle scheme lists drop off points online. Never put batteries in household bins.
Rules and services for e-waste differ between states and councils and can change. Check your local council website for the latest options in your area.
