Top 5 ways to dispose of your old tech

While you’re gushing over your new phone or TV, spare a thought for your old tech.

From old mobiles to laptops and gaming consoles, here are 5 simple ways to give them another life and you could even earn some cash along the way. Remember to delete your data first.

Want to hear more? Join City of Sydney waste and recycling experts for a free e-waste unplugged webinar. You'll learn about FastTech, the science behind electronic recycling and easy ways to tackle the growing e-waste problem from 12pm to 12:30pm, Monday 24 or Wednesday 26 March.

1. Rehome or sell online

If the item is still in working condition, you could find a new owner. Give it to a less tech-savvy friend or family member. Or if there are no takers, list it online free or for a price. Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, eBay and Freecycle are great options to rehome your goods. For a quick sale, do some research first to see how much similar products are selling for. Find more tips to sell your stuff online fast.

2. Recycling stations at customer service centres, libraries, community and recreation centres

You can drop off small electronics less than 11cm wide and 30cm long at our recycling stations at customer service centres, libraries, community and recreation centres. The item needs to be small enough to fit into the collection hole – think mobile phones, charging cords, headphones, smartwatches, webcams and small digital cameras. You can bring batteries and light bulbs for recycling there too.

3. Book a doorstep recycling collection

If it’s small enough to fit into a reusable shopping bag, City of Sydney residents can have items collected from their home with our free doorstep recycling service. Just pop it in a bag and it will be picked up from your doorstep or apartment lobby and recycled. Perfect for smaller items like kettles, mobile phones, game consoles and digital cameras. We’ll also collect clothes, batteries, polystyrene, light bulbs and other tricky household items. It’s free and you can book a collection of unlimited bags once a week.

4. Drop it off at Recycle It Saturday or Ultimo recycling pop-up

If you prefer to get out and about to recycle, save your electronics for Recycle It Saturday. These quarterly events are held at Alexandra Canal Depot. Or, check out Ultimo recycling pop-up, our recycling hub open Tuesdays 2pm to 7pm.
You can drop off more than just your broken electronics at these locations. We’ll take clothes in great condition, polystyrene, light bulbs, household gas cylinders, x-ray scans and more.

5. Book a free City of Sydney pick-up

If you live in the City of Sydney area, you can recycle your old electronics using our free weekly pick-up service. If it has a plug, power cord or battery, we’ll pick up your old tech and make sure it’s recycled. This is a great service for larger items like TVs, pedestal fans, microwaves and electronic toys. Make sure you remove any batteries first, as they can cause truck fires.

With so many easy and free options, it’s never been easier to recycle and keep these valuable materials out of landfill. Some electronics are also repaired or refurbished, with data wiping, before being resold. This helps support the second-hand market and extend the life of electronics even further.