To mark International e-Waste Day, Officeworks has revealed the true scale of Australians’ impact on the nation’s growing e-waste challenge, with more than 12,500 tonnes of unwanted electronics diverted from landfill since 2015 through its Bring it Back program.
The ten-year milestone highlights a decade of Australians dropping off old laptops, printers, phones, and cables at Officeworks’ 173 stores nationwide, ensuring unwanted tech is responsibly recycled, repaired, or repurposed.
Leading the effort is the Dee Why store in Sydney’s northern beaches, where since 2020, the local community has collected 71 tonnes of e-waste – the equivalent of more than 1,000 baby elephants or seven of Sydney’s double-decker buses.
“At Officeworks, we are passionate and committed to being People and Planet Positive with key initiatives such as Bring it Back and Tech Trade-in,” said Store Manager Mathew Ashton.
“Our local community in Dee Why is located close to stunning beaches, and we take pride in our responsibility for keeping e-waste and rubbish away from the beaches, oceans and natural areas. It’s thanks to our local community that we can celebrate being the biggest eWaste collection Officeworks store. To think we’ve kept 71 tonnes from landfill in five years and positively recycled is amazing, and we look forward to continuing our efforts along with our customers and local community.”
Fiona Lawrie, Head of ESG and Corporate Affairs at Officeworks, said Australians are among the highest generators of e-waste globally, producing between 20 to 25 kilograms per person each year.
“International e-Waste Day on the 14th October is a timely reminder that the actions we take today can have a big impact on tomorrow,” she said. “Through our e-waste programmes, Australians have shown that they want simple, accessible ways to reduce waste and keep valuable resources in circulation. The 12,500 tonnes recycled over the past decade is a powerful testament to what can be achieved when businesses and communities work together.”
The Bring it Back initiative features dedicated in-store collection stations for stationery, pens, markers, batteries, printer cartridges, and more. In 2025, the program expanded to include pre-loved school supplies, which are redistributed to students in need through partnerships with Stationery Aid, Give Write, and Green Collect.
Officeworks also runs a Tech Trade-in program in partnership with Moorup, allowing customers to exchange old phones, laptops, and tablets for store gift cards. Through partners ANZ RP and Close the Loop, materials such as copper and steel are recovered and recycled for new products, while plastics are melted down to create garden furniture, planters, and even roads.
“We’re proud of the difference the Bring it Back initiative and Tech Trade-in Programme is making, not only helping Australians recycle responsibly but also creating community benefits through repurposing programs,” Lawrie said.
“We are proud to work with dedicated partners and the role they play in protecting our planet. On International eWaste Day, we encourage everyone to look around at the unused tech in their homes and workplaces and bring it in. Together, we strive to continue to empower our customers to repair, reuse and recycle — keeping materials and products in circulation.”