Australians are among the highest users of new technology in the world and purchase over 2.4 million computers every year. This makes electronic waste or e-waste (which includes computers and accessories), a growing problem.
The good news is that the government has a National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme which provides e-waste recycling services. This makes it easy for people to recycle their computers, printers, computer parts and accessories for free. Computers are ideal for recycling due to the inclusion of resources like tin, nickel, zinc and copper.
Planet Ark maintains a database of television and computer drop-off points, so you can search for recycling near you:
https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/ewastescheme/
You can also find recycling locations below:
https://ecyclesolutions.net.au/drop-off-locations/
Check recycling drop-off point providers to confirm what’s accepted in each location. Drop-off points may also accept other e-waste such as mobile phones, batteries and electronics.
Items you can recycle under the scheme include:
- Laptops, notebooks, palmtops and tablets
- Personal computers
- All televisions
- Keyboards
- Joysticks and game pads
- Mouses and trackballs
- Scanners
- CD drives
- Web cameras
For the full list, go to https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste/consumers/recycling-drop-off
Give your e-waste a second life
If your old electronic equipment is still working, there are things you can do to prolong its life:
- Offer it to your friends or family.
- Ask second-hand shops or charities if they could make use of them.
- List it on your local Buy Nothing Group or local Community Facebook page.
- See if your local school could make use of any laptops or TVs.
Sources:
https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/ewastescheme/
https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste/consumers/recycling-drop-off
