Batteries and electronic items

Graphic of electronic items

Batteries and electronic items (or e-waste) cannot go in any household bin. They can cause fires inside collection trucks or at sorting facilities, putting staff and the community at risk. 

Electronic waste (or e-waste) is any item with a plug, battery or cord. In 2019, the Victorian Government banned e-waste from landfill.

Electronic items and batteries can also leach toxic materials into landfill, contaminating the soil, groundwater and wider ecosystem.

Recycling electronic items and batteries by taking them to a safe drop-off location recovers valuable materials to create new products. 

Search batteries and electronic items on our Monash online recycling guide for the most up-to-date disposal information.

Monash online recycling guide

Before you take household batteries to a drop-off location, prepare the batteries to reduce the risk of fire and environmental hazards. Learn more about how to safely prepare batteries.

Battery drop-off locations

Search batteries on our Monash online recycling guide for the most up-to-date disposal information.

For household batteries, take to one of the following locations for free disposal:

Household batteries include AA, AAA, C, D and 9V-sized batteries.  

Electronic items drop-off locations

Check if the electronic item is accepted at Monash Recycling and Waste Centre (fees may apply).

For specific electronic items, search on our Monash online recycling guide to check for drop-off locations and the most up-to-date disposal information.

What is electronic waste (e-waste?)

An electronic item includes any item with a plug, battery or cord such as:

  • Computers and accessories (computer monitors, laptops, iPads, hard drives, mice, keyboards, headsets, microphones, webcams)
  • Mobile phones, phone chargers
  • Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D and 9V-sized batteries)
  • TVs, VCRs, DVD recorders, remote controls
  • Gaming devices (for example, Xboxes, PlayStations, Nintendo consoles, Switches, game controllers)
  • Kitchen appliances (for example, microwaves, kettles, toasters, coffee machines)
  • Desk lamps, floor lamps, torches
  • Fans, heaters
  • Hair dryers, hair straighteners
  • Cameras, battery chargers
  • Vacuum cleaners, irons
  • Power boards, power tools
  • Solar lights, solar panels
  • E-scooters and e-bikes

This is not an exhaustive list. Search our online recycling guide to check how to recycle specific electronic items.

Why are batteries hazardous?

All types of batteries can cause fires, including the batteries in your laptops, mobile phones, power tools, electronic toys, e-bikes and e-scooters.

Fire risk

Batteries can spark against other metals (including other batteries) or short circuit, causing them to overheat and possibly ignite. This can create a fire hazard, putting people in the community and staff at risk.

Environmental risk

Batteries can contain heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, zinc, manganese, nickel, silver, mercury and lithium. If these heavy metals end up in landfill, they can contaminate our soil and groundwater, affecting our community and wildlife.

What happens to batteries when they're recycled?

Batteries can contain valuable materials like lithium, cobalt and manganese. By recycling our batteries, we can re-use almost all of the materials in them, saving us from depleting finite natural resources.

How can I reduce my electronic waste (e-waste)?

1. Buy less

Before purchasing a new electronic device, ask yourself 'do I really need it?'

Tip: if you want to purchase something non-essential, wait three days. If you're still thinking about it three days later, buy it. Otherwise, maybe you no longer want it or you forgot about it.

2. Buy second hand, or go refurbished.

If you need to buy electronic items consider a purchasing a second-hand or refurbished item. Search online such as Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree or your local Cash Converters. If you need a new phone or phone upgrade, look for refurbished phones at phone brands or mobile phone providers.

3. Look after your device

Are you replacing your device due to damage or general wear and tear? Invest in a quality case, a glass protector, and/or a stand for your device, to help protect your device. Turn off or reset or device every so often, this can help preserve the life of the device.

4. Repair your device

If your electronics aren't working, you can try repairing them. Take the item to a repair shop or a local pop-up repair cafe.

5. Recycle

Use our Monash online recycling guide to work out where you can take your electronic item to be recycled.

How to safely dispose of batteries

Before you take batteries to a safe drop-off location for recycling, you should prepare the batteries to reduce the risk of creating fire and environmental hazards. Batteries that are leaking or damaged also need to be handled in specific ways.

Tape the terminals

Tape the terminals on your batteries with clear sticky tape. Ensure both terminals are covered. This reduces fire hazards.

Store them safely and for maximum of 6 months

Store batteries in a glass jar away from children and pets in a cool and dry place. Do not store them for more than 6 months

Handling and storing leaking batteries

If the batteries are leaking but otherwise look normal, wear gloves when handling them and dispose of them in a ziplock bag.

Handling and storing damaged batteries

When batteries are swollen or heavily damaged, they are a fire hazard so make sure to wear gloves when handling them and store them in fireproof container such as a glass jar but do not make it airtight.

More information

Please contact the Monash Recycling and Waste Centre for more information on safe drop-off and disposal.

For more information and safety tips, visit B-cycle’s webpage.

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