E-waste

E-waste (electronic waste) is any item with a plug, battery or cord that is broken or unwanted. This includes:

• whitegoods such as washing machines, dishwashers, fridges, freezers, ovens and microwaves
• home entertainment items such as televisions, DVD players, gaming units, computers and mobile phones
• corded gardening equipment such as hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, line trimmers and lawn mowers
• household items such as toasters, kettles, irons, lamps, battery operated or electronic toys, hairdryers, fans, heaters and printers.

The Victorian Government banned e-waste from landfill in 2019. This was to protect our environment and recover more precious resources.

Across Australia, e-waste is growing three times faster than general waste. Evolving technology and consumer demand for the latest products has reduced the lifespan of these items.

E-waste contains materials that harm the environment and human health, so it makes sense to keep them out of our air, soil and waterways. Hazardous materials such as mercury, arsenic, cadmium, solvent, acid and lead do not break down easily. This means they stay in the environment for a very long time.

A more sustainable option is to recycle e-waste and recover any reusable materials. This limits the need to source raw materials, in turn reducing greenhouse gases created in the production process.

Your e-waste is transferred to a processing facility where it is taken apart, shredded and sorted. It must be handled carefully as toxic metals may be present.

Mercury, plastics, printed circuit boards, ferrous metals and aluminium are separated from e-waste. Useful or valuable materials are then recovered such as gold, silver, copper, aluminium, platinum and cobalt.

These items are used to produce new electronic products or reused elsewhere. Best of all, they're not lost to landfill.

Manage your e-waste by taking it to your nearest e-waste drop-off point. City of Whittlesea residents can drop off their e-waste free of charge at:

Heidelberg Materials Landfill and Transfer Station

55 Bridge Inn Road, Wollert

Phone: 03 9408 1299

SRS Metals

304 Mahoneys Road, Thomastown

Phone: 03 9357 3900

It's a good idea to remove your personal files and information from devices before taking them to an e-waste drop-off point.

As every phone and computer is different, it's best to check with the item’s manufacturer to work out the best way to backup or erase your data. Further details are available at ewaste.vic.gov.au.

If you’re likely to use an electrical item only a few times, it might be worth borrowing rather than buying.

Ask friends, family or neighbours if they have the item you need, or see if it's available to hire.

The latest is not always the greatest, especially if it contributes to environmental harm.  

Ask yourself whether you really need the newest model. Check out second hand options where you can often find products that are professionally refurbished and still come with a warranty.

Reduce your e-waste by getting the most out of your existing electronics.

Keep them clean, avoid overcharging battery-run devices and use protective covers on tablets and phones.

Even if you’ve stopped using a product, it's likely someone else could make use of it.

Keep electronic items out of the waste stream by donating or selling them.

Not only will this extend their life, but you could earn some money in the process.

When you think a product has reached the end of its life, it’s always worth seeing if it could be repaired.

Seek out a local repairer or get help repairing your electronic item at a Repair Café.