Ever wondered why e-waste and other dangerous goods are banned from your kerbside bins?
Last September, a helium gas cylinder exploded in one of our waste trucks, and a battery-operated blender started a fire in another. While no one was hurt, disposing of these items incorrectly could have caused serious harm.
E-waste is any item with a battery, cord or plug that's no longer working or wanted. Household chemicals and aerosol cans that aren't empty are also dangerous. These items can't be disposed of in your kerbside bins.
E-waste includes:
- batteries of any kind
- whitegoods (fridges, washing machines, dishwashers)
- household appliances (like toasters, kettles, hairdryers)
- laptops, tablets, computers and their accessories (like cords, printers, mouses and keyboards)
- mobile phones and their accessories (like cords, chargers)
- televisions and DVD players
- cameras
- power tools
Other dangerous and flammable items include:
- aerosol cans that aren't empty
- household chemicals
- accelerants like petrol, diesel and waste oils
- gas bottles or butane cans.
How to dispose of e-waste and dangerous items
Dispose of small e-waste (like batteries, phones, kettles and hairdryers) for free at:
- Camberwell Customer Service - 8 Inglesby Road, Camberwell
- Boroondara Sports Complex - 271c Belmore Road, Balwyn North
- Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre - 8 Warner Avenue, Ashburton
- Hawthorn Arts Centre - 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn
- Kew Library - corner Cotham Road and Civic Drive, Kew
- Greythorn Community Hub and Library Lounge - 2 Centre Way, Balwyn North.
Dispose of small to medium-sized e-waste (like microwaves) for free, and large e-waste (like whitegoods) for a fee at Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre - 648 Riversdale Road, Camberwell.
Dangerous goods like chemicals and other flammable items can be disposed of at Sustainability Victoria’s Detox Your Home events.
Let’s all play our part to keep our waste safe. Find the best way to deal with your unwanted items using our A-to-Z recycling and waste guide.