Queensland · Brisbane
E-waste disposal in Brisbane
In Queensland, batteries and battery-operated devices must never go in any kerbside bin. Take screens, computers and printers to a free National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme point, batteries to a B-cycle drop-off, and larger e-waste to a council resource recovery centre. Wipe every device before it leaves the house.
Sources Queensland Government: don't bin your batteriesQueensland Government: Recycle MateQueensland Waste Strategy: priority wastes
What do I do with electronics & screens in QLD?
- Wipe it first Factory reset, sign out of accounts, pull the SIM and any storage card. Do this before it leaves the house, not after.
- Still working? Sell, give away, or check whether a repair café or men's shed wants it. A working laptop is worth more than its metals.
- Dead? Take it to an e-waste drop-off. Televisions, computers, printers and their peripherals have a free national-scheme route; whitegoods, fridges, air conditioners and other electronics vary by state and site, so follow the state rules below.
Batteries and battery-operated devices never go in a kerbside bin. Televisions and computers go free to National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme points, batteries to B-cycle, and larger items to a council resource recovery centre.
Nearest drop-off: Recycle Mate — find your nearest
Can I put electronics in the bin in Queensland?
No. The Queensland Government's instruction on batteries is explicit: never dispose of batteries or battery-operated devices in your waste or recycling kerbside bins. Compacted or punctured in a truck, a cell can start a fire, emit toxic gases and cause acid burns. Screens and computers have their own free drop-off, so use it.
Where can I drop off e-waste in Brisbane?
Council resource recovery centres take household e-waste, and televisions, computers, printers, computer parts and peripherals are covered by the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme, which is free for households at its collection points. Batteries go to B-cycle drop-off points, including participating Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and Bunnings stores. Recycle Mate, at recyclemate.com.au, finds the nearest site for your address.
Does e-waste disposal cost anything in Queensland?
Television and computer drop-offs under the national scheme are free for households, and B-cycle battery drop-offs are free. Council resource recovery centres set their own charges and conditions, so check your council before you load the car. You pay only for convenience: a paid pickup, or a retailer taking the old appliance away when the new one is delivered.
What should I do before I get rid of a phone or laptop?
Sign out of every account, factory reset the device, and take out the SIM and any storage card before it leaves the house. A working, wiped laptop is worth selling or giving away. A dead one goes to a drop-off with its battery left inside, because a loose lithium cell is the part that starts fires in trucks.
Need it gone this week?
Compare council collection, recycling and pickup options on the fridge and whitegoods removal page for Brisbane.