How to Recycle Old Laptops in Melbourne
Did you know the lifespan of a laptop is 3-5 years? It’s not long, and it often means many Melbournians have a backlog of old computer systems sitting around their house (or office). You know the ones; they’re too old to sell on, but you’re not sure what to do with them.
Recycle them!
In Victoria, e-waste must be recycled, and laptops and computers are classified as e-waste.
We repeat: do not throw old laptops and computers into your landfill bins. Not in Victoria, and ideally not at all.
But what can you do?
How do I recycle my laptop?
There are various ways you can do it. Your local council will have e-waste services. Or, you can contact a recycling centre, like Norstar, and we can assist you with recycling your old e-waste.
Our recycling centre ensures the salvageable metals are recycled and returned to the manufacturing process. And any dangerous toxins are responsibly disposed of, keeping Victoria safe.
Why do I need to recycle old laptops and computers?
We’ve discussed in our previous post that old power tools [insert link], batteries and e-waste contain dangerous materials. These toxic materials can leach. Whether in a garbage truck or a landfill, it’s unsafe and can lead to fires. Your computer and laptop contain valuable metals that can be recycled including:
- Motherboards
- Cards: graphic, connector, etc
- CPUs
- Connectors and cables
They are likely to contain gold, copper, aluminium, and more dangerous (but still valuable elements like lithium.
Recycling your old laptop and computer keeps more of these elements in the ground, reducing carbon emissions over time and reusing these precious, finite resources.
Other recyclable computer materials include:
- Monitors
- Keyboards
- Mice
- Headphones
- Printers
If you have a laptop or computer you’d like to recycle or have any questions about the services we offer, contact our qualified team by filling out the form below or calling us at 1800 472 727.
