Most households in Australia now have at least one computer and with the lifespan of a personal computer ranging from 2-5 years that is a significant amount of ewaste. After six years it was finally time to upgrade my laptop, the conundrum is what to do with the old one, which still works, albeit slowly. So it seems there are now more options for reuse and recycling of computers, time to find out what they are.
There are many materials in old computers and monitors including gold and platinum that can be recycled and some that can’t. As well as recyclables there are also toxic substances so if there is life left in the old dog, its a good idea to look for opportunities for reuse first.
Reuse
If it still works consider donating it to a charity like ‘Reverse Garbage‘ or put it up on FreeCycle.
Contact GreenPC, ‘computer refurbishers’ who then make donated computers available to low-income communities, individuals and community organisations.
Dell will pick up Dell-branded equipment from any location in Australia and NZ. Visit the DELL website and fill in the forms for the items you would like collected.
The Bower reuse and repair cooperative, accept a wide range of items including computers.
Recycling
The first stop to find out what computer and ewaste recycling facilities there are near you is to check out Recycling Near You.
The government agency Sustainability Victoria in partnership with companies including Apple, Canon, Dell, Epson, HP, IBM etc has been piloting a computer take-back and recycling scheme in Victoria (ByteBack) since 2007 in Victoria. Or try:
- 1800Ewaste will collect electrical devices from any capital city location for a small fee
- Computer recycling.com focuses on businesses and can offer a buyout on some equipment.
- Greenbox are ‘innovative ecyclers’. Specialising in recycling end-of-life IT equipment for businesses.
- Wesley E-Recycling refurbishes computers for individuals, low-income earners and non-for-profit organisations.
- ERNi (Equipment Recycling Network Inc) recycles donated computers for people with disabilities – Maroondah, Victoria.
- Cashforcomputers, purchase old computers and either recycle or provide to their affiliate, computersforall; Melbourne, Victoria.
- PC Graveyard recycle computers and other electronic and electrical items free of charge. Pick up or drop off. covering Geelong, Ballarat and parts of Melbourne, Victoria.
- MRI (Aust), offers computer recycling with offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
- RecycleIT as the name suggests, recycle old computers. They accept all computer and personal electronic goods for recycling from the public free of charge – Perth, WA.
- E-Cycle Recovery; recycles electronic goods including computers, Adelaide, South Australia
Now there seem to be plenty of option to breathe new life into my old laptop.
Thank you for this article. We recently upgraded from a bulky desktop computer to a new laptop. I couldn’t bear the idea of putting a computer out in the street. It still worked, but it was not convenient and took up too much space for us.
Good to know there are other, more eco-friendly options.
Thank you – and is it a similar story for mobile phones?