Stellenbosch E-Waste: How to Safely Dispose of Old Laptops & Batteries
Students and SMEs in Stellenbosch generate loads of e-waste. Learn safe, lawful laptop & battery disposal under NEM:WA — with Digissential’s compliant process.
· Digissential Team · 2 min read
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TL;DR: Stellenbosch produces high volumes of e-waste from student turnover and SME device refresh cycles. Under NEM:WA, laptops and batteries are hazardous — Digissential disposes of them lawfully and wipes your data with CoDD proof.
Why safe disposal matters
- Lithium fire risk: swollen or punctured cells ignite easily.
- POPIA data risk: old drives often hold coursework, IDs, invoices, client data.
- Legal duty: the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (NEM:WA) bans e-waste in landfills.
What we take (and how we handle it)
| Item | Accepted | Handling |
|---|---|---|
| Laptops & desktops | ✅ | Logged → optional data recovery → certified wipe → CoDD |
| HDDs/SSDs | ✅ | Read-only imaging (if requested) → crypto wipe → CoDD |
| Loose lithium batteries | ✅ | Terminals taped, bagged, isolated for recycler |
| Chargers & peripherals | ✅ | Sorted into compliant recycling streams |
| CRTs/large appliances | ❌ | Referred to municipal/specialist |
Digissential’s compliant process
- Data Destruction (Certified Wipe): every drive wiped or destroyed with certificate.
- Data Rescue + Secure Wipe Bundle: recover what you need first, then issue CoDD.
- Chain of custody: intake logs, device IDs, handler signatures.
- Safety procedures: E-Waste Disposal Policy + On-Site Safety Checklist.
Book help in minutes
CTA: Digissential ensures your old laptops and batteries are disposed of legally, safely, and with POPIA/CPA compliance.
FAQs
Q: Can I throw a laptop battery in the bin?
A: No. Lithium cells can ignite and are classified as hazardous under NEM:WA. Use a compliant drop-off like Digissential.
Q: What happens to my data on old drives?
A: We run cryptographic wipes or physical destruction and issue a Certificate of Data Destruction (CoDD).
Q: Do you recover files before wiping?
A: Yes. With your consent, we attempt logical recovery first, then securely wipe the drive.
Q: Do you accept all e-waste?
A: We take laptops, drives, phones, chargers, and batteries. CRTs/large appliances are referred to municipal streams.
Q: Can you collect e-waste from my office or residence?
A: Yes, subject to load and schedule. We follow On-Site Safety rules for lithium handling.
Compliance & trust
External references
Updated on 2025-09-11.