Did You Know - Ewaste to a Better Place

Published on 21 August 2026

Take Your E-Waste to a Better Place - for FREE

Are you replacing electrical gadgets that cannot be fixed?  Has your toaster stopped working or is it time to upgrade the computer?

Remember that these items cannot go into any of your kerbside bins.  Council provides e-waste bins at the Hopetoun, Warracknabeal and Murtoa transfer stations.  Small e-waste items - phones, cords, and laptops, can all be dropped into the Council Office in Warracknabeal.  There is no charge for e-waste disposal in the Yarriambiack Shire.

If the waste collection truck sees there is e-waste in the kerbside bin, then it will not be collected.

Household batteries can also be dropped off at a variety of locations, such as supermarkets that now have a battery recycling station and other Council Offices.

While e-waste is a global issue, it is also a local problem.  Australians are amongst the highest users and disposers of technology - with e-waste increasing at a rate that is three times faster than other waste.

While keeping e-waste out of landfill is important, there are two other reasons for being pro-active about recycling our e-waste:

• It prevents hazardous materials from harming the environment or human health.  Hazardous materials can include lead, mercury, ozone depleting chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) and flame retardants.  These materials, even in small quantities, can cause harm to the environment as they leach into soil and waterways if not disposed of appropriately.
• E-waste contains valuable materials that can be reused.  A good example is the ubiquitous mobile phone.  While more than a million mobile phones discarded in Australia every year, by recycling correctly we could recover up to: 16 tonnes of copper, 350 kilograms of silver, and 34 kilograms of gold.

We can deal with electrical and electronic goods in a better way - some tips are:

• Smarter purchasing - try to avoid goods that have built in obsolescence or a short-term life.
• Repairability - look to purchase goods that can be repaired without voiding warranties.
• Look after the good we have - keep them clean, well maintained and serviced.
• Use goods as they are meant to be used don't overfill refrigerators and read installation instructions to ensure efficient use.

There is a comprehensive booklet on dealing with e-waste that is available at the Council Office - 34 Lyle Street, Warracknabeal VIC 3393.