Where to put your waste

"Electronic waste" or "e-waste" is a term used to describe old or discarded electronic equipment.

Electronics that require a power cord to be plugged in at all times do not contain batteries. It is important that these items are recycled as this recovers valuable materials such as gold and copper, and also reduces the amount of toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury in landfill.

E-waste bins are located in campus libraries and student centres in the following locations:

• Brisbane South (Nathan)
  • Building N53, Room 1.05 (at the back of the Collaboration Zone)
  • Building N63, Room 2.04
• Gold Coast
  • Building G10, Room 2.19
  • Building G01, R3.34
• Logan
  • Building L03, Room 2.20
• Brisbane City (South Bank)
  • QCA Building S03, Room 2.30
  • QCGU Building S01, Room 1.22

Please note: No batteries or devices containing batteries are to be dropped off in these bins. Such devices may include, but are not limited to, laptops, smartphones, smartwatches, and vapes/e-cigarettes.

Electronic devices without batteries may include:

• Wired keyboards and mice
• Computer monitors
• Televisions
• Kitchen appliances (kettles, toasters, etc.)
• Printers and scanners
• Desktop PCs (not laptops)
• Cables

Most e-waste collected on campus is responsibly managed by Crown Waste Solutions who are currently partnered with Eco Batt - Your Battery Recycler. Some eWaste collected on campus is responsibly managed by Substation33, a social enterprise that recycles electronic waste and provides training and employment opportunities in the process.

No staff devices are to be places in the e-waste bins. Devices must be returned to Digital Solutions.

Electronic devices which are cordless, can recharge, have a safety warning such as “do not overheat”, or use the terms “Li-ion”, “Lithium”, or “Li+” are likely to contain a lithium-ion battery.

Common items containing lithium-ion batteries include:

• mobile phones
• laptops
• smartwatches
• vapes and e-cigarettes
• wireless headphones/earphones.

Lithium-ion batteries and devices containing lithium-ion batteries should never be placed in general waste, as this presents an extreme safety hazard. A damaged lithium-ion battery can overheat and catch fire.

Never attempt to remove these batteries yourself.

Please lodge a service request if you wish to discard a device with a lithium-ion battery.

Lodge a request

Household batteries (e.g. button batteries, AA, AAA) can be placed in battery collection buckets located alongside campus e-waste bins. Devices using these batteries may have the batteries removed (if safe and accessible) and then be placed in campus e-waste bins.

No staff devices are to be placed in e-waste bins. Devices must be returned to Digital Solutions.

Nespresso pods can be recycled in the N54 2.40 kitchen area.

Unwanted furniture and resources can be listed on Warp It, an online platform where Griffith staff can swap items internally. Items not claimed are donated to local charities. Common items posted on Warp It include:

• Furniture
• Stationery and office supplies
• Printer consumables
• Lab equipment

Broken furniture or items that can’t be reused should be taken to the council recycling depot by Griffith’s removalist contractor.

Single-use medical equipment in some teaching schools and in the medical services offered on campus are consumed mindfully, however, due to health and safety hazards and the strictly regulated nature of these environments, waste is inevitable.

The significant majority of all medical waste is classified as Clinical waste - this is removed from our campuses by Ace Waste (who are an EPA-approved provider), and incinerated. We account for these emissions in our annual carbon management reports and they form part of our Net Zero 2029 goal.

The Technical Services team in the School of Nursing and Midwifery is leading the way in waste reduction by cleaning and reusing medical training equipment such as syringes, IV lines, fluid bags, and soft plastics. Used exclusively on medical manikins, this equipment can be safely reused, allowing the team to significantly cut down on single-use plastics.

Their proactive approach not only supports a more sustainable training environment for over 900 students each week, but also tackles the global challenge of medical waste. Through this initiative, the team has reduced plastic waste, conserved resources, and delivered substantial cost savings—all while modelling circular practices in healthcare education.

Construction and demolition (C&D) waste must never be placed in general waste bins or hoppers on campus. Contractors must comply with Queensland’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Regulation 2011, including proper tracking and disposal of regulated waste.

Contractors at Griffith University are responsible for the collection and disposal of C&D waste during their operations on campus. Contractors also have the responsibility to follow waste policies as set out by Griffith University.

To reduce environmental impact:

• Avoid over-ordering materials
• Separate clean waste streams (e.g. timber, metal, concrete, bricks) for recycling
• Reuse materials like crushed concrete on-site where possible
• Use licensed transporters and approved disposal facilities
• Ensure hazardous waste is handled by certified professionals

Following these practices helps reduce landfill and supports Griffith’s sustainability goals.

The many laboratories around Griffith University strive to reduce single-use waste wherever possible. However, due to the highly regulated and often hazardous nature of these environments, student and staff safety and wellbeing and regulatory compliance must be our priority - which can result in unavoidable waste generation.

The significant majority of all lab-generated waste is classified as Clinical waste - this is removed from our campuses by Ace Waste (who are an EPA-approved provider), and incinerated. We account for these emissions in our annual carbon management reports and they form part of our Net Zero 2029 goal.

While single-use lab waste is unavoidable in many cases, lab staff strive to commit to sustainability in other ways. New stock is often unpackaged outside of the lab to ensure packaging does not become contaminated and can be diverted to alternate waste streams, avoiding incineration. Plastic, glass and polystyrene containers are frequently repurposed within labs where possible, and can sometimes be decontaminated and recycled. Additionally, lab purchasing practices often factor in common needs, quality and durability, energy efficiency, servicing and disposal considerations so that materials and equipment are fit for purpose, have high utility and a long service life, and can be responsibly disposed.

Practical workshops are a core aspect of studying at Griffith University as they provide an opportunity for students to gain real-world skills during their studies in a hands-on.

As a result of this, a small amount of waste is generated. To reduce the amount of waste generated in these workshops, the Griffith University Creative Arts Research Institute (CARI) have released these recommendations to improve the sustainability of these workshops:

1. Choose materials with low environmental impact, prioritising biodegradable, recycled, upcycled, or locally sourced options (e.g., natural dyes, earth pigments, native fibres).
2. Minimise the use of toxic, synthetic, or non‑renewable materials such as plastics, acrylic paints, industrial resins, or synthetic textiles—dispose of unavoidable materials responsibly.
3. Favour local suppliers and environmentally responsible vendors to reduce freight emissions and packaging waste.
4. Engage with First Nations knowledge holders and Country‑specific protocols when sourcing ochres, fibres, plants, or other land‑based materials to ensure cultural safety and ecological respect.

As a result of student and staff consultation, and bin auditing, extra bins are placed in workshops for specialised waste streams such as scrap metal recycling, and processed engineered fuel (PEF) for items made from wood.