Australia generates around 22 kilograms of e-waste per person each year, more than double the global average, and the national total is projected to reach about 657,000 tonnes by 2030. For households, recycling old TVs and computers is free. For businesses, the bigger issue is data, and the rules are different.
Deal with data first: wipe every data bearing device to the NIST 800-88 standard or destroy it, and keep a certificate. Recover value: working equipment can be remarketed to offset the cost. Recycle the rest: use a provider that recycles in line with the AS/NZS 5377 standard and keeps material out of landfill. Keep your records: hold the certificates and chain of custody for audit and compliance.
E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the country, and most of it still goes unrecovered. For a household, the system is simple and free. For a business, disposing of old computers and electronics carries a data risk that the free consumer channels are not built to handle. This guide covers what counts as e-waste, what happens to it after collection, and how a business should approach disposal. For the basics, see our guide to what e-waste is.
E-waste is any electrical or electronic equipment that has reached the end of its useful life, including anything with a plug, a battery, or a cord. That covers computers, laptops, servers, monitors, phones, tablets, printers, networking gear, televisions, and the cables and accessories that go with them.
It matters because electronics contain two very different things at once: valuable materials worth recovering, such as gold, copper and aluminium, and hazardous substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium that must be kept out of landfill. Recovering those materials feeds a circular economy, where reuse and recycling reduce the need to mine new resources. For business equipment there is a third factor that household waste does not have, which is data.
The scale behind the issue. Figures from named public sources.
After collection through drop-off points, council collections or business pickups, e-waste is sorted by type and sent to a recycling facility where it is dismantled. Valuable materials such as gold, copper and aluminium are recovered and processed for reuse. Hazardous substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium are extracted and managed under strict environmental controls.
Done properly, this keeps toxic material out of landfill and reduces the need to mine new raw materials. Done poorly, or sent offshore to developing countries, it exposes workers to toxic substances and contaminates soil, water and air. That is why where your e-waste goes matters as much as the fact that you recycled it.
| Question | Household | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | TVs and computers free under the national scheme | Priced by volume; value can offset cost |
| Main concern | Keeping items out of landfill | Data security and compliance, then recycling |
| Where | Council drop-off points and retailer programs | Scheduled on-site collection |
| Records | None needed | Certificates and chain of custody for audit |
A retired laptop, server or even a printer can still hold customer records, financial data and credentials. Deleting files or reformatting a drive does not reliably remove that data. Under the Privacy Act, serious or repeated breaches carry penalties of up to 50 million dollars, and the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme can require you to report a breach publicly. Wipe every data bearing device to the NIST 800-88 standard or destroy it, and keep a certificate. Recycling should happen only after the data is gone.
Requires manufacturers to fund free drop-off recycling for household televisions and computers. It is the reason most household TV and computer recycling costs nothing.
Pushes manufacturers to take responsibility for the whole lifecycle of their products, including disposal, to promote sustainable design and responsible end of life.
Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia ban e-waste from landfill and require recycling through designated facilities. Other states strongly discourage it.
An international treaty Australia has signed that restricts exporting hazardous waste, including e-waste, without the consent of the importing country.
1. Inventory what you are retiring. List devices and note which ones held data, so nothing is missed.
2. Deal with data first. Wipe to the NIST 800-88 standard or destroy each data bearing device, and keep a certificate.
3. Recover value where it exists. Working equipment can be remarketed, offsetting the cost of the job.
4. Recycle the rest responsibly. Use a provider that recycles in line with the AS/NZS 5377 standard and keeps it out of landfill.
5. Keep your records. Hold the certificates and chain of custody documentation for audit and compliance.
ITC provides this whole process for business. We handle certified data destruction and recycling, and our e-waste recycling in Sydney service collects on a schedule that suits you. For organisations with sites in more than one state, our national IT asset disposal service covers interstate collections as well.
Common questions about e-waste and business disposal in Australia.
Australia generates around 22 kilograms of e-waste per person each year, which is more than double the global average. The national total is projected to reach about 657,000 tonnes by 2030, according to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the country.
For households, recycling televisions and computers is free under the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme, which is funded by manufacturers. For businesses, e-waste disposal is usually priced by volume, although the cost can be offset where retired equipment still has resale value.
A retired computer, server or printer can still hold customer records, financial data and credentials, and deleting files or reformatting a drive does not reliably remove that data. Under the Privacy Act, serious or repeated breaches carry penalties of up to 50 million dollars. The safe approach is to wipe each device to the NIST 800-88 standard or destroy it, and keep a certificate before recycling.
In Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia, e-waste is banned from landfill and must be recycled through designated facilities. Other states strongly discourage it. Regardless of the rule in your state, putting electronics in general waste sends hazardous material to landfill and wastes recoverable resources, so it should be avoided everywhere.
E-waste is sorted by type and dismantled at a recycling facility. Valuable materials such as gold, copper and aluminium are recovered for reuse, while hazardous substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium are extracted and managed under strict environmental controls. A responsible provider recycles in line with the AS/NZS 5377 standard and keeps material out of landfill.
ITC collects, securely destroys data, and recycles business electronics across Sydney and nationally, with serialised certificates at every stage.
