How to Dispose of E-Waste Responsibly: A Guide for Australian Businesses
Most offices have a cupboard of old laptops, phones, monitors and printers that nobody quite knows what to do with. They cannot go in the general bin, and they often still hold business and client data. Disposing of them properly protects the environment, but for a business it is just as much about protecting information.
This guide explains how Australian businesses can dispose of e-waste responsibly, which free schemes you can use, and how to make sure no data leaves the building with the hardware.
What counts as e-waste?
E-waste is any unwanted electrical or electronic equipment. In an office that usually means:
- desktop computers, laptops and tablets
- monitors and televisions
- printers, scanners and multifunction copiers
- mobile phones and their chargers
- keyboards, mice, cables, docking stations and external hard drives
- network gear such as routers, switches and NAS drives
- batteries, including laptop and UPS batteries
Electronics contain materials that can harm people and the environment if they end up in landfill, as well as valuable metals that can be recovered and reused.
Step 1: Decide whether it can be reused
The most responsible option is to keep useful equipment working longer. Before you dispose of anything, ask:
- Can it be repaired or upgraded? A new battery or solid state drive can give a laptop more useful life. Our computer repairs team can tell you whether it is worth it.
- Is it still supported? A device that can no longer receive security updates should not be redeployed for business use. Computers that cannot move off Windows 10 fall into this group, as Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025.
- Could it be donated or sold? Working equipment can go to a charity, school or community group, but only after it has been securely wiped.
Step 2: Securely remove the data
This is the step businesses most often get wrong. Deleting files or dragging them to the recycle bin does not remove them, as our article on where deleted files go explains. If your devices held personal information, Australian Privacy Principle 11.2 also requires organisations covered by the Privacy Act to take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify that information once it is no longer needed.
Computers and laptops
- Back up anything you need to keep, and confirm the backup works.
- Sign out of and remove the device from Microsoft 365, device management and any licensing portals.
- Use a proper data erasure tool or the drive manufacturer’s secure erase function. Simply reformatting is not enough.
- Be aware that solid state drives store data differently from older hard drives, so overwriting methods designed for hard drives may not reliably remove everything. If the drive was encrypted, for example with BitLocker, wiping it and discarding the encryption key adds strong protection.
- If a drive is faulty or held very sensitive information, have it physically destroyed.
Phones and tablets
- Back up the data, then sign out of the Apple ID or Google account so activation locks do not stop the next user.
- Remove the device from your mobile device management system.
- Perform a full factory reset and remove SIM and memory cards.
Printers, copiers and network equipment
Many multifunction printers and copiers contain a hard drive that stores scanned and printed documents. Ask your supplier or leasing company how the drive is wiped or removed at the end of the lease. Routers, firewalls and NAS drives should be reset to factory settings, and any saved passwords changed elsewhere.
For organisations that want a formal standard, ASD’s Information Security Manual includes guidelines for media sanitisation and the disposal of IT equipment on cyber.gov.au.
Step 3: Use a free or accredited recycling option
The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme
The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS) is the Australian Government’s product stewardship scheme for TVs and computer equipment. It covers televisions, computers including laptops and tablets, monitors, printers and computer peripherals such as keyboards, mice, hard drives and memory cards. Drop-off services are free for households and small businesses, although charges may apply for larger enterprises.
To find a collection point, search Planet Ark’s Recycling Near You website, or contact the approved scheme providers TechCollect or E-Cycle Solutions.
Mobile phones
MobileMuster is a government-accredited program that recycles mobile phones and accessories. Its website lists drop-off points and collection options.
Batteries and other items
Keep batteries separate from other e-waste, as damaged lithium batteries can cause fires. Recycling Near You lists battery drop-off points and options for other electronics.
Larger volumes
If you are replacing many devices at once, consider a commercial IT asset disposal provider. Ask them to provide a certificate of data destruction and to confirm that equipment is recycled through an accredited process, not shipped off for unknown handling.
Step 4: Keep a record
Update your asset register to show each device’s serial number, how its data was removed, the date and where it went. If a client or auditor ever asks what happened to a laptop that held their data, you will have a clear answer.
Quick checklist
- Decide whether the device can be repaired, redeployed or donated.
- Back up the data you need.
- Remove the device from your accounts and management tools.
- Securely erase or physically destroy the storage.
- Drop it at an NTCRS, MobileMuster or accredited recycling point.
- Record what was done in your asset register.
Our lifecycle and asset management service can help you track devices, plan replacements and retire old equipment securely.
Have old devices you are not sure are safe to throw out?
Our free IT Health Check reviews your device register and replacement plans, and shows you how to retire old equipment without leaving data behind.
Or call 1300 133 770.
