E-Waste

A picture of items that can be recycled as e-waste

How do you recycle your old electronic waste? You bring it along to the e-waste drop-off event! E-Waste drop-off events offer residents the opportunity to responsibly dispose of their e-waste free of charge.

E-Waste includes computers, monitors, televisions, printers, scanners, video players and more.

Your e-waste should be presented either loosely or in a cardboard box. Plastic packaging such as styrofoam and plastic bags will not be accepted.

There is a limit of three televisions and three computer units per household. Large printers or photocopiers will not be accepted. Proof of residence is required.

For more information phone Council's Help & Service Centre on 9777 1000.

The switch to digital TV commenced in some parts of NSW in December 2010 and will be rolled out across the rest of NSW over the next few years. However there is no need to buy a new digital TV - most old analog TVs are capable of receiving digital by plugging in a set-top box or digital recorder. Search the brand and model of your TV to see if it can accept digital at www.digitalready.gov.au. If you do buy a new TV, you can recycle your old one through an E-Waste drop-off event.

When and where is the next collection?

The next E-waste drop-off event will be held on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 June from 9am-3pm at Bicentennial Reserve car park, Small Street, Willoughby.

The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (a federal government initiative) came into effect in 2012. Under the scheme, householders and small business will be able to drop-off waste televisions, computers, printers and computer products for free at designated access points. Dates and venues are yet to be announced but the scheme will give residents another option for disposing of their e-waste.

E-waste can also be taken to Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre for recycling - charges apply.

What can you dispose of?

  • Monitors
  • DVD players
  • Modems
  • Laptops and notebooks
  • CDs and disks
  • Televisions
  • Keyboards
  • Printers
  • Video players
  • Other computer parts
  • Stereo systems
  • Computer cables
  • Scanners
  • Fax machines

What about wet weather? The e-waste event will still go ahead.

What are the limits for what can be dropped off? Three monitors, three computer units, one printer and one fax machine per household.

Can businesses drop e-waste off? No, this is only for residents. As it costs money to recycle equipment, Council cannot subsidise businesses.

What happens to the equipment after collection? Computer e-waste will be transported to PGM Refiners recycling facility in Minto. PGM Refiners are able to recycle more than 95% of computer waste. They pull each computer apart and sort out the parts into groups of materials such as plastics, metals and glass. Some computer plastics are melted down and granulated to be used again. All computer parts are recycled in Australia.

Why is the scheme being run? Willoughby City Council is actively looking for ways it can reduce waste to landfill. Currently, all computer equipment collected in the Council clean up collection service is sent to landfill. All computer equipment contains highly toxic materials, like lead and cadmium that can over time leach out and cause problems in landfills.  It is also a waste of resources as materials, like glass, metal, copper and plastics found in this material can be recovered and recycled.