See our wish list for a list of non computer related items we need.

We want computers with a minimum specification of:

• CPU - Pentium III 800Mhz/ Celeron 1Ghz or better, PIV's preferred.  We wipe all hard drives.
  
• Memory - 128 MB PC 133 SD-RAM or better, 256+ DDR and 128+ RD RAM
  
• Disk capacity - 8 GB or better
• Monitor - 17" or greater, made in 2002 or later, working and in good condition.  
  Monitors will only be accepted with Pentium IV or better computers. Fees apply for all monitors accompanying PIII donations. No exceptions. We have an oversupply of monitors and struggle to accommodate them in our warehouse.
  
• Internal and external Modems - Lucent or Agere internal winmodem pci cards
• Apple Macs G4 or better with original software
• Laptops  - Pentium III or better. Please remove any passwords (BIOS locks) on donated laptops. If password locks are not removed, we reserve the right to charge a fee.
  

Equipment meeting the above specifications or better can be dropped off during our opening times.

Computerbank cannot pick up low volumes of computers that just meet the minimum specification.  We do not pick up less than 5 items.  Please check our fees for obsolete equipment.

Important: Computerbank will invoice all donors who incorrectly advise equipment specifications.

Please refer to our Donation Guidelines (PDF) document for more information.

Preparing your donation for drop-off:

Please bring as little packaging and boxes as possible. Please recycle the boxes for your equipment through your councils recycling program.

Recycling computers is labor intensive. Doing any of the following to prepare your equipment for donation will help us speed the processing and recycling of your equipment.

1. Untangle all cords and cables. Coil them up with a rubber band or twist tie.
2. Attach power adapters (AC adaptors, transformers) to their associated equipment (such as powered speakers, printers or external modems) as best you can, we suggest wrapping with clear packing tape.

Obsolete and non working equipment

Fees for obsolete or faulty equipment delivered to Computerbank West Melbourne:

• $11 each 14, 15 inch or non working monitor
• $11 each 17 inch monitors
• $5.50 each under spec or non-working pc or mac computer (inc KB/mouse) dropped off
• $5.50 each small printer or laptop, larger printers attract a higher fee
• gold coin donation for other non working items

Fees for obsolete or faulty equipment requiring pick up:

Melbourne Metro areas only, extra fees apply if in rural/remote locations.  Minimum pick up 5 systems.

• $11 for each 14 and 15 inch monitor (min 5 depending on location)
• $15 for each 17 inch monitor (min 5 depending on location)
• $20 for each 20 inch monitor (we don't always have space for these)
  
• $5.50 per each computer (min 10 depending on location)
• $11 - 22 per large printers and computers (ie servers)
• $5.50 for smaller printers
  
• $2 - 5.50 for other non working items

A tax invoice is provided, 10% GST is included in all e-waste handling fees.

Due to the introduction of fees at the polystyrene compaction centre, we have introduced a 'packaging' surcharge. Please ask for details.

What Happens to Hard Drives?

All working hard drives are wiped using Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) software (available at http://dban.sourceforge.net). This permanently removes all information from the drive.

Recycling and the Environment

Computerbank is committed to the environmentally friendly recycling of e-waste.

• We send monitors to a Government endorsed processing facility
  
• We send scrap metal (mainly empty cases) to a metal recycler.
  
• We send computer boards, power supplies, floppy drives, CD/DVD drives, CPU's, old and dead hard drives, cables and chips for metal extraction
  
• We take polystyrene (from packaging that gets sent to us) to a compaction centre where it is eventually turned into picture frames.
• Most of our plastics get turned into long life building products such as fence posts and pellets
• Despite our best efforts we have yet to find a solution for some of the waste that is generated (some plastic and lead glass) these end up as landfill once all recoverable material has been removed.
  

Phone: (03) 9600 9161   Opening hours Fri 10am - 5pm and Sat 1pm - 5pm

Email - donations@computerbank.org.au

A list of all our supporters can be found here