Aussies dump 20kg of e-waste a year: Here’s how your business can do better

Australians are among the world’s worst offenders when it comes to e-waste, generating around 20 to 25 kilograms per person every year. However, new figures from Officeworks show the tide may be starting to turn, as more consumers and small businesses embrace recycling old tech instead of sending it to landfill.

To mark International e-Waste Day, Officeworks has revealed that Australians have diverted more than 12,500 tonnes of unwanted electronics through its Bring it Back program since it launched in 2015. That’s roughly a quarter of the weight of the Sydney Harbour Bridge or about 1.3 million laptops that have been kept out of landfill.

According to Fiona Lawrie, Head of ESG and Corporate Affairs at Officeworks, the milestone shows growing awareness of how important responsible recycling has become.

“Australia is one of the world’s largest generators of e-waste, and the actions we take today can have a big impact on tomorrow,” she says.

“Through our e-waste programs, Australians have shown that they want simple, accessible ways to reduce waste and keep valuable resources in circulation.”

Putting an end to e-waste

Leading the way is Officeworks’ Dee Why store, which has collected a record 71 tonnes of e-waste, the equivalent of around 1,000 baby elephants, since 2020. Store manager Mathew Ashton credits the local community for driving the effort.

“We’re located close to some of Sydney’s best beaches, so people here really care about what ends up in the environment,” he says. “To think we’ve kept 71 tonnes from landfill in five years is pretty amazing.”

How small businesses can contribute

E-waste is a growing concern for workplaces, with laptops, printers and phones quickly becoming obsolete as technology advances. The Officeworks figures highlight how businesses can play a key role in reducing waste by making recycling part of everyday operations. Whether that’s through organised collection points, supplier take-back schemes, or partnering with local recyclers.

The company’s Bring it Back stations now operate in 173 stores nationwide, taking everything from batteries and printer cartridges to cables and stationery. Its Tech Trade-in program also allows customers to exchange old phones and laptops for store credit, with recovered metals and plastics reused in new products, garden furniture and even road materials through partners ANZ RP and Close the Loop.

Lawrie says the goal is to keep materials in circulation rather than on the scrap heap.

“On International e-Waste Day, we encourage everyone to look around at the unused tech in their homes and workplaces and bring it in. Together, we can repair, reuse and recycle.”

As recycling week shines a light on waste reduction, it’s a reminder for business owners to take stock of what’s sitting in the office cupboard. That pile of forgotten cables and outdated devices might not just be clutter, it could be the start of a cleaner, more sustainable workplace.

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