MobileMuster recycles all mobile phone components, including all brands of handsets, along with their batteries, chargers and accessories. Free of charge. Find out more.
Everything you need to know about recycling mobile phones
WARNING! Do not put mobile phones in recycling or garbage bins - the batteries inside are hazardous and a fire hazard.
For 20 years Shred-X Secure Destruction has been the number one choice for confidential secure destruction, document shredding, office paper recycling and destroying sensitive data. Shred-X has since expanded on available service offerings and now offers secure destruction, repurposing and recycling solutions for an array of products other than paper, including electronics (e-Waste), products, accessories, uniforms and textiles.
We offer secure destruction solutions for private households through to large global corporations and the highest security government departments.
I.T.Collect offers a full service electronic waste (e-waste) removal, destruction and recycling service. We come to you. We do all the hard work. We take everything out of your room, shed, storage unit or wherever you have your e-waste stored and take it away to be disassembled, shredded and recycled. Fees apply depending on the travel distance and volume and type of products you need recycled. No drop-offs are accepted.
Computers for Young and Old collects unwanted computers and other electrical equipment for refurbishment and reuse. The donated items are passed onto those in need such as refugees and disadvantaged communities. They also send equipment offshore to help schools.
They accept all electronic equipment and their peripherals including computers, laptops, monitors, keyboards, mice, software, DVDs, cameras, mobile phones, game consoles, tablets, power tools, LCD projectors and cables.
They also provide a free collection service within the NSW region, as well as the ACT, Queensland and Victoria depending on volume.
Gregory’s Recycling is a family owned business based in Campbellfield and offers the convenience of a pick-up service from your work site, office or home.
We collect all types of Metals, eWaste items (Computers, IT, etc.) White goods, Medical devices and equipment. We have hook bins ranging in sizes from 10 to 23 cubic metres which can be delivered to your site for a few hours or several weeks depending on your job requirements.
At Latrobe Valley ewaste and recycling service we offer collection and drop off of all size ewaste and whitegoods. All sizes welcome from personal to large industry companies, its free to call us to organise collection, drop-offs or just arrive at the listed location with your goods.
ManMade Cycle provides the following services:
IT Equipment Recycling: We responsibly reuse of and recycle outdated laptops, other IT equipment, cables, and accessories.
Asset Buyback: We offer competitive buyback prices for a range of devices, including but not limited to MacBooks, Windows laptops, serves, tablets, phones, and other IT equipment.
Data Erasure: Our comprehensive data erasure services come with certified data erasure certificates for your peace of mind.
Bins: We provide dedicated e-waste wheelie bins (240L/ 660L) for your business, with monthly or on-demand collections. Ideal for offices, schools, and IT departments looking for a hands-off way to manage and dispose of unwanted electronics responsibly.
Please don't hesitate to contact us. Our team is here to assist you in achieving your ESG goals!
We are the most trusted JUNK and Rubbish Removal service in Australia and the reason why is that we know how to make cleaning up and getting rid of your RUBBISH and JUNK as easy as possible!
At JUNK all you need to do is to let us know how much Rubbish and JUNK you have and we will handle the rest! Just point and shoot and we will make your Rubbish and JUNK disappear.
Our JUNK Crew will come to your home, business, worksite, factory, or office to load the RUBBISH and JUNK into our vehicle and take it to our own Recycling & Resource Recovery Centre to sort and recycle your old JUNK & RUBBISH responsibly.
SPC eCycle provides a wide range of E-waste recycling services. We recycle nearly all categories of e waste. We offer free drop-off and conditional free pickup. You can also request further services such as data wiping and data center deconstructing. Here at SPC we try to make your work as easy as possible. You can just give us a call and we will do the rest of the work for you.
The Junk Crew aims to be quicker than the council and cheaper and more convenient than a skip bin. We are more than just your typical junk removal company. Located in Melbourne, Australia, we are a youthful, dynamic, and energetic team, driven by a passion for positively impacting our community and the environment. Unlike other junk removal services that may prioritise quantity, our core mission is to minimize waste and enhance sustainability. We achieve this by focusing on recycling every element of our junk removal process.
We firmly believe in the adage that one person’s junk is another person’s treasure. This belief drives our approach to every item we collect, ensuring it is meticulously hand-sorted with a strong commitment to recycling, rehoming, or donating wherever feasible. Our dedicated team works tirelessly to separate recyclable and salvageable items, ensuring they are given a new lease of life.
Our services encompass a wide range of junk removal, from furniture disposal to electronic waste removal in Melbourne. We handle every type of junk with the utmost care and responsibility. Each load we manage represents a step towards a cleaner and greener planet. Our goal is to minimize our environmental footprint, affirming our role in keeping our Melbourne community clean and sustainable.
About RecycleSmart
RecycleSmart is a pioneering startup that started in Sydney, with a bold mission to simplify recycling. Our "Power Pickup" service provides on-demand doorstep collection for over 100 challenging recyclable materials, including soft plastics, e-waste, textiles, batteries, and more. Serving individuals, businesses & councils in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth, RecycleSmart has diverted 900,000 kilograms of resources from landfills.
Each category undergoes a unique recycling process. We partner with a number of amazing recycling partners that help recycle the items. The Power Pickup service also extends benefits to councils as well as businesses of all sizes. Over 1000+ business accounts created so far, including prominent names like Canva, WeWork, John Holland, Williams Fashion Logistics, and Comsol.
Primarily Bendigo E Waste, is committed to repair or recovery of hardware and materials in the Electronics space. We offer collections and Free Drop Off as well as data destruction as part of our services. Ideally we restore as much hardware as possible, prior to any recovery of commodities from items beyond repair.
Tech Recycle is an e-waste collection service based in Seaford, Victoria, serving the surrounding areas. We collect old computers, laptops, iPads, and other e-waste items, ensuring they are recycled in the most environmentally friendly way possible.
Ezy Auto Wrecker provides comprehensive vehicle recycling services. We dismantle vehicles safely, salvage usable parts, and ensure that all recyclable materials, such as metals and plastics, are processed efficiently. Our focus is on reducing environmental impact through responsible recycling practices and adhering to stringent environmental and safety standards. Our service aims to contribute to resource recovery and sustainable waste management, ensuring that end-of-life vehicles are handled in an eco-friendly manner.
Ezy Auto Wrecker provides comprehensive vehicle recycling services. We dismantle vehicles safely, salvage usable parts, and ensure that all recyclable materials, such as metals and plastics, are processed efficiently. Our focus is on reducing environmental impact through responsible recycling practices and adhering to stringent environmental and safety standards. Our service aims to contribute to resource recovery and sustainable waste management, ensuring that end-of-life vehicles are handled in an eco-friendly manner.
Australian National University 1 Balmain Crescent Acton ACT 2601 Australia, Acton
We recycle and reuse a wide range of classic video styles by organizing, reworking, and reimagining iconic formats, then rebuilding and redesigning them into fresh content inspired by timeless video aesthetics.
Australian National University 1 Balmain Crescent Acton ACT 2601, Acton
Textideo is an AI-powered video generation platform that transforms text into professional-quality videos. Create scripts, apply AI video effects, and generate engaging content without a subscription. Ideal for creators, marketers, and businesses looking to produce high-quality videos faster and smarter.
Mobile phones, landline phones, chargers, and mobile accessories should never be put in your household recycling bin. They can be recycled, but only through specialised recycling programs.
Australia has a national recycling scheme for mobile phones run by not-for-profit MobileMuster. Recycling your old or broken mobile phone is easy, with more than 3,000 free public drop-off points across Australia and a free mailing service. Recycling points include major phone retailers such as Optus, Telstra, and Vodafone, as well as Officeworks stores.
How to use the recycling scheme
Simply visit a recycling point to drop off your old, broken or unwanted mobile phones and accessories. Use the directory on this page to find a location near you.
Alternatively, you can post your mobile phones and accessories to MobileMuster for free by requesting a pre-paid satchel or picking one up from local Australia Post store. If you would prefer to use your own packaging, you can download a pre-paid label and drop your package off at the post office or post box.
What can you recycle?
MobileMuster accepts any type of mobile phone for recycling. They also accept mobile phone batteries, chargers and accessories like earphones.
At select Telstra, Optus and Vodafone stores, they also accept modems, home landline phones, TV streaming devices, smart speakers, smart digital hubs (only Apple, Amazon, Google products), smartwatches, smart pens, tracking tags and VR headsets (only Apple, Amazon, Fitbit, Google products).
Why recycle?
More than 95% of the materials in mobile phones (like metals, plastic, and glass) can be recovered and used to make new products. Recycling keeps these materials in use and out of landfill, preventing hazardous items like mobile phone batteries from leaching toxic materials into the soil and groundwater.
When you recycle, you are also reducing the need to extract new materials like precious metals from the earth, saving our natural resources in the process. Additionally, recycling prevents pollution and improves air quality by reducing the demand for power used in mining, refining, processing, and shipping of raw materials.
According to MobileMuster, recycling 50,000 mobiles saves 99 tonnes of mineral resources and 19 tonnes of CO2-e emissions. To find out how much impact you’re making from recycling your phone, visit the MobileMuster Calculator.
What happens to it?
Mobile phones, accessories, and otheraccepted electronic items collected by MobileMuster are transported to one of two recycling facilities in Sydney and Melbourne. Products are dismantled manually with components separated into different streams: circuit boards, metal, glass, plastics, and batteries.
Some plastics and metals are processed in Australia, while circuit boards, batteries, and other plastics are processed by MobileMuster’s recycling partner at their facility in Singapore. These materials are recovered and used to make a range of new products including mobile phones, glass bottles, recycled plastic park benches, electronics, mobile phone batteries, and stainless-steel products.
Nothing the program collects is reused or resold. MobileMuster’s priority is to recover the majority of materials to use in the manufacture of new products.
Image credit: MobileMuster.
Recycling mobiles at work
There are some recycling companies that offer collection and drop-off services for commercial quantities of mobile phones. To find a commercial mobile phone recycler for your workplace or business, visit mobilephones page forbusinesses.
MobileMuster offers a one-off pick-up service for businesses across the country, accepting all brands of mobile phones, their charges and accessories, smart watches, VR headsets, and mobile broadband devices. To book a one-off collection, contact MobileMuster at mobilemuster@amta.org.au or call1800 249 113.
MobileMuster partners with retailers, repair stores, local councils, and workplaces across Australia to make it easy and accessible for the community to recycle. Find out if your workplace or business can register for a free collection unit that can be used to promote mobile phone recycling to your staff and customers.
Businesses and workplaces can also consider buying second-hand, repairing or selling mobile phones through PhoneCycle.
Image credit: MobileMuster.
How to delete data
Before you recycle, sell, or give away your mobile phone, you should remove all personal information. If you are unable to remove the personal information from the phone, it can still be recycled. Any data left on the phone will be destroyed during the recycling process.
Did you know there are currently 22 million unused mobile phones stored in homes across Australia and almost 14 million of these are unusable? If your mobile phone is still working, consider extending its life by either selling it online or passing it on to a friend or family member. This will extend the life of the mobile phone and keep the materials used to make it in use at their highest value for as long as possible. If it no longer works or is no longer wanted, then it’s time to recycle it.
Charities that accept mobile phones
DV Safe Phone collects, repairs and gives free mobile phones to domestic violence survivors, through over 360 Domestic Violence and Law Enforcement Agencies, Safe Houses and Hospitals Australia-wide.
The Reconnect Project is closing Australia’s digital divide by providing refurbished mobile devices to people in need, (re)connecting them with family, friends and essential services. They accept donations of all makes and models of mobile phones and tablets, regardless of their age or condition; and laptops that are less than 10 years old.
Hello Initiative in Western Australia recycle and refurbish donated mobile phones for their Mobile Support Project, which connects young people in the WA justice system with refurbished smartphones. They accept donations of good condition smart phone devices from 2014 onwards and can also coordinate a donation drive for schools, community groups and businesses.
Image credit: MobileMuster.
What is MobileMuster?
MobileMuster is funded voluntarily by major handset manufacturers and network carriers to provide a free mobile phone recycling program. It was established in 1998 and is accredited by the Federal Government.
When you recycle through MobileMuster:
You are recycling through a carbon neutral program.
Everything collected is recycled to the highest environmental standard.
Nothing is ever reused or resold.
Any data left on devices is destroyed in the recycling process.
MobileMuster accepts a range of electronics for recycling including modems, routers, landline phones, smart speakers, smart watches, smart pens, TV streaming devices, tracking tags, and some VR headsets. For more information visit, MobileMuster or call 1800 249 113.
Image credit: MobileMuster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials can be recovered from a mobile phone?
Mobile phones are treasure troves of valuable materials. Recycling them not only helps the environment but also contributes to the global supply of essential resources. Here's a breakdown of the key materials recovered from old phones:
Precious metals • Gold: Used in the phone's circuitry. • Silver: Employed in various components, including the battery. • Palladium: Found in the phone's liquid crystal display (LCD). • Platinum: Used in certain phone components.
Base Metals • Copper: A vital component in the phone's circuitry. • Aluminium: Used in the phone's casing and internal components. • Iron: Found in various phone parts.
Other Materials • Plastics: Used for the phone's casing and internal components. • Glass: Found in the phone's screen and camera lens.
Recycling mobile phones is crucial for conserving natural resources and reducing electronic waste. By properly disposing of your old phone, you're contributing to a more sustainable future. Use the information on this page to find a recycling location or collection service near you.
Who benefits from mobile phone recycling?
Mobile phone recycling is a win-win situation for multiple parties:
1. The Environment • Reduced e-waste: Recycling prevents harmful and valuable materials from ending up in landfills. • Conservation of resources: Recovering valuable metals reduces the need for mining new materials. • Energy savings: Recycling uses less energy than producing new materials.
2. Consumers • Peace of mind: Knowing your old phone is being recycled responsibly. • Potential financial benefits: Some phone providers offer a trade-in service. • Contribution to a sustainable future: Recycling phones keeps valuable materials in use for as long as possible, which reduces the need to extract new materials from the earth.
3. Industry • Access to valuable materials: Recyclers recover precious metals and other components. • Cost reduction: Recycled materials can be cheaper than sourcing new ones. • Positive public image: Demonstrates commitment to sustainability.
4. Community • Job creation: Recycling operations create employment opportunities. • Support for charitable causes: If your phone is in good condition, you can donate it to a charity so it can be passed on to disadvantaged communities.
Can old mobile phones be recycled?
Yes, old mobile phones can definitely be recycled! To recycle your phone, you need to take it to a recycling drop-off point or organise a pick-up service. You cannot recycle your phone by putting it in your recycling bin at home. Use the information on this page to find a location or service near you.
Where can I recycle old mobile phones?
MobileMuster has thousands of recycling drop-off locations around Australia, making it easier than ever to recycle your old phone. Use the directory on this page to find a location near you.
Alternatively, you can post your mobile phones and accessories to MobileMuster for free by requesting apre-paid satchelor picking one up from local Australia Post store. If you would prefer to use your own packaging, you candownload a pre-paid labeland drop your package off at the post office or post box.
Is it safe to recycle mobile phones?
There are established and regulated recycling programs in place in Australia, such as MobileMuster, that prioritise safe and environmentally responsible practices. They handle the recycling process securely, ensuring that hazardous materials are properly managed and valuable components are recovered.
