What happens to your old laptop when you donate it

Every week, laptops and desktops arrive at our Broadmeadows workshop from households, businesses, schools and government. Most people who donate want to know two things: is my data safe, and where does the computer actually end up? Here's the whole journey.

1. It arrives

A laptop or two can be dropped off at 60 Belfast Street during opening hours, with no appointment needed. Bulk and business donations are arranged in advance, either as a drop-off or a collection depending on quantity and distance.

2. Every drive is wiped

Before anything else happens, every drive is securely wiped. That applies whether the machine is going to be rebuilt or recycled. If you need it for your records, we can issue a data destruction receipt.

Businesses that need certified destruction, such as wiping to Australian and US government standards or physical shredding with a sanitisation certificate, can arrange it through Enable Australia, who we share a workshop with. And if you'd rather not let the drives leave the building at all, pull them out first. We'll happily take the machines without them.

3. It's tested and rebuilt

Our volunteers test each machine and rebuild it with Linux Mint (Computerbank Edition) and more than 70 free applications, including LibreOffice, Firefox and Chrome. Linux runs comfortably on hardware that newer versions of Windows have left behind, which is why a laptop that's past its use-by date for a corporate fleet can still have years of life left for a family or a student.

4. It goes to someone who needs it

Rebuilt computers are sold at low cost to concession card holders, students, asylum seekers and community groups. Every one comes with a warranty and a free introduction to using it. There are no brokers and no interstate freight: machines donated in Melbourne stay with Victorians who need them.

5. What can't be saved is recycled locally

Some machines are too old or too damaged to rebuild. They're recycled locally, never sent to landfill or shipped overseas for unsafe dismantling. We've recycled more than 30,000 items this way, alongside the more than 10,000 computers we've put back into use since 1998.

Ready to donate?

We take laptops from individuals, and laptops, desktops, monitors, tablets and phones in bulk from organisations. Find out what we accept and arrange a donation.