What is E-Waste?
E-waste is any item with a plug, battery or power cord that’s no longer working or wanted. It covers a whole range of items from phones and refrigerators to fluorescent light tubes. (Source: Sustainability Victoria.)
E-waste can include:
Electrical and electronic tools
- Batteries, Drills, Lawn mowers, Saws, Sewing machines
IT, telecommunications and TV equipment
- Computers, Laptops, Mobile phones, Printers, Remote controls, Televisions
Home appliances (large)
- Air conditioners, Cookers, Electric fans, Microwaves, Refrigerators, Washing machines
Home appliances (small)
- Coffee machines, Hair dryers, Irons, Toasters, Watches
Lighting equipment
- Compact fluorescent lamps, Discharge lamps, Fluorescent lamps, High-intensity LEDs
Other items
- Automatic dispensers, Medical devices, Printer cartridges, Thermostats
Toys, leisure and sports equipment
- Amplifiers, Consoles, Hand-held video games, Musical instruments, Radios
- Toys like electric trains and racing cars
Can E-Waste go to landfill?
From 1 July 2019, the Victorian Government has banned all e-waste from landfill sites in Victoria. You are responsible for ensuring your e-waste is recycled. It also just makes sense in this world of increasing pollution that we do that little bit extra to keep e-waste out of landfill.
Why should I recycle my E-Waste?
For one it keeps toxic waste out of landfill. Secondly, many of the components e.g. plastic, glass can be reused to produce other products. Many of the metals in computers can be reused but can also be dangerous to those that touch them. They poison the environment if not managed responsibly e.g. lead, copper, aluminium, phosphorus, tin, iron, steel, silver, gold, mercury, tantalum and many others.
It is not just about the security of your data – it is also about the environment and being part of the circular economy.
How do I present my E-Waste items for collection?
What payment methods do you offer?
Why would I use the IT Collect service when I can take my E-Waste to the local transfer station, retailer or just put it out on the nature strip for free?
The Victorian government has helped the local council set up areas at local municipal transfer stations to collect electronic waste. In order to do this, you require the time and the effort to put all the items in your car and take them there. This can be challenging based on the volume, weight and condition of the items (e.g. rusty, dirty, falling apart). The items cause damage to your car or you could hurt yourself lifting the items in and out.
There is a risk that the next person that comes along can take your hard drive, laptop, computer etc. for reuse. This could compromise the security of your data. Similarly, if you leave your items out for a hard rubbish collection or if you leave them at a retailer’s e-waste collection bin that same thing could happen.
Is the IT Collect service expensive?
We try to provide our customers with a cost-effective service that is equivalent to a standard courier or taxi service. You could do it yourself but e-waste has often been left in storage for years and is dirty, dusty, rusty, falling apart, messy, tangled bits and pieces. For roughly the same cost as a courier service, we will come and do it all for you. All you need to do is point and we will do the rest. When the job is completed we can provide you with a Certificate of Destruction confirming your items were securely destroyed and responsibly recycled.
What if I need my E-Waste itemised?
For audit purposes or to update a company’s asset register, some customers require a listing of all items taken for recycling. An additional fee is charged depending on the amount of information you require e.g. serial numbers, model numbers, brand names etc. This information will be presented back to you in a spreadsheet attached to your Certificate of Destruction.
How do you choose an E-waste recycler?
Like any industry you need to do your research and ask the right questions to find a supplier that you want to deal with. There are e-waste providers that cut corners, break the environmental laws in how they handle the e-waste components and chemicals. Some just illegally ship e-waste overseas.
With IT Collect you are dealing with a local business that has done the research for you and will provide you with a Certificate of Destruction confirming your e-waste items have been securely destroyed and responsibly recycled.
Get Your Free Quote Now
Call 1300 33 44 56
Why Choose IT Collect?
We are an electronic waste (e-waste) collection service that specialises in collecting and securely disposing of your e-waste items in a secure and environmentally responsible manner.
- No job to big or small.
- We come to you and do all the heavy lifting.
- We do it for you –if it's heavy, dirty – cobwebs or dust, difficult location - upstairs or downstairs no problem!
- Chain of custody procedures in place.
- 95%+ of components are recycled.
- Components containing data eg. hard drives are shredded and components recycled.
- Certificate of Destruction provided.
