Electronic waste (e-waste) recycling
E-waste is any item with a plug, battery or power cord that doesn't work or isn’t wanted.
Do not put e-waste in your general waste or recycling – this can lead to fires or explosions. Instead, drop it off to:
- our Resource Recovery Centre for free
- include it in your hard waste collection
- take it to other local drop off points
- donate it.
Vapes, also known as e-cigarettes, can only be recycled through our specialty vape recycling program. Please drop them off at one of our disposal points:
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Victorian Pride Centre (St Kilda)
- Resource Recovery Centre (South Melbourne)
Please note we no longer accept e-waste at any of our library branches.
E-waste you can recycle
IT and entertainment equipment
- computer monitors and hard drives
- laptops
- tablets and iPads
- televisions - flat screen and CRT
- remote controls and computer mouses
- printers
- DVD players and VCRs
- stereos and speakers
- mobile phones
- gaming consoles and controllers
Kitchen and bathroom appliances
- batteries
- microwaves
- kettles
- toasters
- rice cookers
- blender and mixers
- sandwich presses
- coffee machines
- hairdryers, hair straighteners
- power tools
- electric fans, lamps
- lightbulbs – LED, fluorescent and halogen
Other drop-off points for e-waste
Many companies accept used e-waste, including Optus, Telstra, Auspost and Officeworks. Contact stores directly to check if they're accepting the items you're wishing to recycle.
For batteries, you can also check out B-cycle for drop off points.
Recycling e-waste – why it’s important
Most e-waste contains materials that are harmful to the environment. Recycling programs make sure that they are disposed of the right way. E-waste is banned from landfill and can't be put into recycling bins. Go to Sustainability Victoria: Why e-waste can't go in the bin to read more.
Data security and your devices
Make sure you clear all personal data from your devices before dropping them off for recycling. We try to keep items secure, but drop-off centres are open to the public.