Electronic waste recycling

The term 'e-waste' refers to all old computers, computer related products and televisions that no longer work or are obsolete (television and computer waste only). Examples of e-waste include printers, televisions, scanners, video game consoles, computers, laptops and monitors, multi-function devices and computer peripherals (keyboard, mouse, disc drives, web cameras, game pads, electrical transformers or motherboards). These items can be disposed of at any council waste facility free of charge to be recycled.

For any recycling of e-waste and as per AS/NZS 5377 please be aware of the following:

Privacy data from any electronic storage device provided for disposal at end of life should be removed.
This should be performed by the person who manages the data held on the equipment prior to disposal.

Be aware that file deletion does not mean privacy data has been fully removed.

Recyclable materials

E-waste contains recyclable materials. These materials commonly include, but are not limited to:

glass
plastics
metals and alloys such as iron, steel, aluminium and copper
precious metals such as gold, platinum and silver.

E-waste stewardship and responsibility for collection and recycling was established by the federal government under the Product Stewardship Act 2011. With this program valuable materials are recycled and waste to landfill is reduced.

Council's transfer stations will also accept, the non-e-waste items listed below from householders and small businesses.

Non-e-waste items are accepted for disposal as general waste (waste disposal charges may apply) or for recycling (free of charge). These include (please note that these items cannot be disposed of in yellow lid recyclables bins):

white goods
kitchen appliances
microwaves
vacuum cleaners
alarm clocks
hairdryers.

Mobile phones and accessories

Mobile phones (with the battery) are now accepted for recycling free of charge at all Sunshine Coast Council waste facilities and public libraries when placed in the mobile muster bins and boxes. Mobile phones contain recyclable materials such as glass, metal and plastic. Refer to mobile phone recycling. Sunshine Coast Council is a participant in 'mobile muster' and further information can be found on the MobileMuster website.