Home / Guides / Disposing of things

E-waste: how to dispose of electronics properly

Disposing of things · 7 minute read

Electronic waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in Australia, and the rules around it have tightened considerably. In Victoria, e-waste has been banned from landfill since 2019, and other jurisdictions have introduced their own restrictions and collection requirements. Regardless of where you live, throwing electronics in a general bin is the worst available option.

Why it matters

Electronics contain recoverable materials — gold, copper, aluminium, rare earths — alongside genuinely hazardous ones including lead, mercury and cadmium. In landfill the hazardous components leach; the valuable ones are lost. Recovery rates from proper e-waste recycling are high, and the material displaces newly mined resources.

Where to take it

• Council e-waste drop-offs. Most councils run permanent e-waste points at transfer stations or periodic collection events, usually free for households.
• National TV and computer recycling. A co-regulatory scheme provides free drop-off points for televisions, computers, printers and peripherals in most population centres.
• Retailer takeback. Several major electronics and phone retailers accept old devices, batteries and small appliances in-store.
• Mobile phone recycling. A long-running industry scheme accepts phones, chargers, batteries and accessories through post and drop-off points.
• Removal services. Practical for office clear-outs or when you have volume — a legitimate operator sorts e-waste to a licensed recycler rather than landfill.

Batteries deserve their own paragraph

Lithium-ion batteries are now a leading cause of fires in waste trucks and recycling facilities across Australia. When compacted or punctured they can ignite, and those fires are extremely difficult to extinguish. Never place batteries — or devices with built-in batteries, including vapes, power banks, cordless tools and laptops — in any kerbside bin. Dedicated battery drop-off points are available at most supermarkets, hardware chains and council facilities.

If a battery is swollen, damaged or leaking, don't put it in a container with others. Handle it separately and tell the drop-off point.

Wipe your data first

Recycling doesn't guarantee data destruction. Before disposing of any device: sign out of accounts, perform a full factory reset, and remove SIM and memory cards. For computers, a factory reset is the practical minimum; for anything holding sensitive material, physically removing the drive is safer. Business equipment often requires certified destruction with documentation.

If it still works

Working computers and phones have real value to charities that refurbish devices for people who can't afford them. A five-year-old laptop that's useless to you may be transformative for a student. Wipe it, include the charger, and check the organisation's condition requirements first.