What is Byteback?

Byteback is a computer take-back program to help people dispose of unwanted computer equipment responsibly.  Because the main aim is to keep old computers out of landfill, equipment deposited at Byteback sites is broken down into components for recycling.

Who can use Byteback?

Byteback is free to the public and small businesses, who can deposit unwanted or obsolete computer materials at approved sites.

What can I take to Byteback?

You can take up to 10 items from computer systems, including desktops, laptops, computer mice, monitors, printers, scanners, multifunction printers, keyboards, computer power supplies, printed circuit boards, motherboards, network cards, disk and CD drives.

Items not accepted by Byteback include joysticks, game consoles, electronic games, software, digital cameras, electronic equipment, TVs, videos, hi-fi equipment, mobile phones, printer cartridges and copiers.

What happens to the equipment I take to Byteback?

Computer equipment disposed of through Byteback will be broken down into components – plastics, glass, metals, wiring, circuit boards and so on – and sent to various recovery facilities for recycling.

Find out how materials are recycled.

  • Byteback recycling tips

    • Save or delete any important documents or files prior to recycling.
    • If your equipment is still working, consider donating it to a friend, relative or charity who could use it.
    • Plan ahead when recycling old computer equipment. Ensure plenty of room in which to operate and, where possible, ask somebody to help you.
    • Always observe safe lifting procedures when lifting heavy computer equipment. This means using leg muscles, not your back.
    • Before moving equipment, ensure that there is no broken glass or sharp, protruding objects.
    • When transporting, pack equipment safely and closely together, ensuring that screens and monitors are not packed face-down. Use padding or old blankets to reduce the chance of breakages en route.
  • How Materials are Recycled

    • Computer equipment received through Byteback* is broken down into the following components:

    • Plastics
      Plastic represents over 30 per cent of scrap generated from computer equipment. To ensure that the greatest possible amount is recovered and to eliminate environmental impacts, plastic scrap is separated and granulated to reduce it to a size that enables it to be converted into pellets ready for re-use.
    • Printed Circuit Boards
      The recycling of printed circuit boards, connectors and ICs is undertaken at Noranda Recycling in Canada because there is no disposal treatment facility in Australia that is capable of extracting the valuable metals they contain. The international transportation of printed circuit boards to Canada for smelting and refining raises no environmental concerns and is permitted under regulation.
    • Batteries
      Nickel metal hydride, nickel cadmium and lithium batteries are sent to Societe Nouvelle D’Affinage Des Metaux in St. Quentin Fallavier in France for recycling.  Lead batteries are recycled here in Australia.
    • Cathode Ray Tubes
      A cathode ray tube [CRT] contains approximately 2 to 3 kilograms of lead which is encapsulated in glass. After removal of all non-glass components, the vacuum is released and the CRT broken. The funnel and panel glass is then exported to Mirec Asset Management in the Netherlands under permit, where the leaded glass is recovered for new CRT manufacture by LG Electronics.

      CRT glass is packaged in a special container that prevents particles from being released into the atmosphere.
    • Printing Inks and Toner Cartridges
      Toner cartridges are sent to Close-the-Loop in Somerton, Victoria, where they are recycled into raw materials for re-use in new toner cartridges.
    • Liquid Crystal Displays
      Liquid crystal displays are back-lit with gas discharge lamps which contain mercury. They are sent to a specialised mercury recovery facility in America.
    • Glass
      All recovered glass from electronic equipment is sold to Pilkington Australia, a glass manufacturer.
    • Metal
      Both ferrous and non-ferrous metals are easily separated from other components by hand and are sent away for smelting here in Australia. In excess of 99 per cent of metal from electronic equipment is recovered, thereby ensuring the conservation of a non-renewable resource.
    • Insulated Wiring
      Polyvinyl chloride [PVC]-covered wire, such as signal or power cables, are shredded and chopped to a small size and then granulated to separate the insulation from the copper wire. The remaining plastic is then recycled.
    • Packaging Material
      Re-usable packaging material is sold to Amtec, a recycling company in Thomastown, Victoria, and cardboard is sold to Bayside Cartons in Braeside, Victoria.
    • Power Supplies
      Contain metal and plastic components and are sold to Sims Metal for recycling.

Who is running Byteback?

Sustainability Victoria, a Victorian Government agency, is building Byteback in partnership with the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) and founding partners Apple, Canon, Dell, Epson, Fujitsu, Fuji-Xerox, HP, IBM, Lenovo, and Lexmark. 

The Victorian Government has provided base funding and the industry partners will cover the cost of recycling their branded equipment.

Learn more about Byteback’s partners

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