Knowing how to dispose of old computers and monitors is becoming increasingly important. Over the past year, we’ve had to adapt to the new normal of working from home and relying on digital communication to stay in touch with friends and family.
We’ve spent more time than ever glued to our computers, staring at computer monitors for meetings, and checking in on friends and loved ones virtually. It would have been unimaginably harder without access to the latest digital technology, computers, and smartphones.
A recent Wired article highlighted that “between October 2019 and October 2020, we spent 3.3 trillion minutes—or 6.3 million years—on Zoom calls. That’s up from 97 billion minutes, or 184,000 years, in the 12 months previously. As Covid-19 pushed us out of our offices, we turned to Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Hangouts.”
With computers and electronic gadgets being essential tools in our daily lives, it’s important to be mindful of the way we’re discarding our e-waste when we’ve outgrown them or when they’ve reached the end of their life cycles (which tends to get shorter every year).
It’s no wonder that electronic rubbish is growing three times as fast as any other waste stream, which is why we need to recycle our e-waste whenever we can instead of discarding them in the trash.
Why Should We Recycle Computers?
According to Clean Up Australia, a non-profit environmental conservation organisation, 4 million computers are purchased in Australia every year, 88% of which will make their way to landfills, contributing to the 140,000+ tonnes of electronic waste generated by Australians annually.
Only an average of 10% of computers are recycled in Australia even though 98% of a computer’s components are fully recyclable.
Not only will recycling these components reduce the environmental impact of future productions, but it will also prevent hazardous materials in these components—lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic—from leaching into the soil when buried in landfills, polluting our natural ecosystem and inevitably affecting our long-term health.
How to Dispose of Old Computers and Monitors
Instead of leaving your old and unwanted computers and monitors for your local skip bin hire company to haul off, where they’ll most probably end up in landfill sites, here are a few ways to dispose of them that’s kinder on the environment:
- Check the list of accepted products for recycling under the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS) and find the closest e-waste recycling drop-off points near you.
- The NTCRS is a government-funded e-waste recycling scheme established in 2011 providing Australian households and small businesses free access to industry-funded collection and recycling services.
- Contact the manufacturer of your computer or monitor to see if they offer a recycling or buy-back program. Apple Australia’s trade-in program offers credit for your next purchase, which is a wonderful incentive for recycling old Apple products.
- Pass on your equipment to friends or family who might have better use for it. Maybe you have a young niece who needs a basic computer to develop her digital skills.
- Donate the equipment to charity organisations or second-hand shops. Assuming that your equipment is still in decent condition, it might be a welcome gift for those in need.
- You might also be interested in the following recycling services by A Tech Recyclers:
- Free Bulk Collection
If there’s sufficient quantity and quality, A Tech Recyclers will collect your e-waste from your premises for free. Contact them to confirm your eligibility for free collection. - 24/7 Drop-Off Points
To drop off individual items, simply bring them to any of the following A Tech Recyclers drop-off points:
i) Factory 2, 40 Southern Road, Mentone 3194
ii) City of Kinston Council Office: Ground Floor, 1230 Nepean Hwy Cheltenham 3192
iii) Chelsea Library: 1 Chelsea Road, Chelsea 3196
iv) Westall Library: 35 Fairbank Road, Clayton South 3169
v) Patterson Lakes Library: 54 Thomson Road, Patterson Lakes 3197 - Buy-Back Program
For those interested in liquidating or decommissioning a large quantity of e-waste, A Tech Recyclers also offers a buy-back program to purchase equipment with resale value. Contact them to find out more.
- Free Bulk Collection
There are a number of ways to dispose of your old computers and monitors responsibly, and they don’t require much effort.
Request a Free Collection Today!
A Tech Recyclers has been providing professional e-waste recycling services since 2016, operating from a 1200m2 warehouse in Mentone and servicing the whole of Melbourne. We accept e-waste from any business or workplace including schools, universities, TAFE, hospitals, and clubs.
We provide free collection from your premises free of charge, providing sufficient quantity and re-useability. Contact us today on 0402 651 980 to discuss your e-waste recycling options.
