We are tossing out electronics faster than ever. 62 million tonnes of e‑waste hit the landfill in 2022, up around 82 percent since 2010. And at this pace, we could be looking at 82 million tonnes by 2030. This includes anything with a plug, battery, or cord, from old computers and peripherals to mobile phones and appliances.
Discarded electronics often contain harmful elements, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and the like, that can poison ecosystems and put human health at risk if they aren’t handled correctly. In Australia, e-waste is officially regulated, and since 2019, anything with a cord or battery is banned from landfill. In other words, our old IT equipment must be disposed of safely and recycled properly.
Test and tag, also known as Portable Appliance Testing (PAT), is the industry-standard method for ensuring electrical appliances are safe before reuse or disposal. It involves a visual inspection for damage and an electrical safety test using a PAT tester.By verifying that equipment is safe, or flagging it if it isn’t, test and tag reduces shock and fire hazards and maximizes the potential for reuse. This is especially important when dealing with end-of-life computers and other IT gear.
The E-Waste Challenge
Australians discard a lot of electronics. In 2019, Australia generated roughly 511,000 tonnes of e‑waste, about 20 kg per person, versus the global average of 7 kg, and that volume is set to climb by around 30 percent by 2030. Unfortunately, only about one-third of e-waste materials are recovered; the rest goes to landfills, including $430 million worth of metals and plastics in 2019 alone.
A large share of these discarded devices holds harmful substances that, when mishandled, can seep into soil and pollute groundwater. That’s why Australian waste laws treat many electronics as regulated waste. Under state regulations and schemes, old computers and peripherals cannot just be thrown in the trash or general landfill. They must be brought to approved collection points or recycling facilities, meaning any e-waste, including your old laptop or phone. needs a careful safety check before final disposal or recycling.
What Is Test and Tag?
“Test and tag,” sometimes called electrical appliance testing or “portable appliance testing”/PAT, is the formal name for inspecting and testing electrical devices. It is defined by the Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 3760. It often consists of two important parts:
Visual inspection
A trained tester examines the appliance and its cord for obvious problems such as frayed wires, cracked insulation, broken plugs, loose parts, discoloration, or burn marks. Any visible damage usually means failure.
Electrical testing
Using a PAT tester, a specialized meter, the tester checks the appliance’s internal electrical circuits and verifies earth continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, and leakage. If all readings fall within safe limits, the device passes.
Once testing is complete, a tag is attached to the appliance, hence “test and tag”. The tag records when the test was done, who did it, and the next due date for retesting. If an appliance fails any part of the check, it is tagged “out of service” and must not be used. You could say, test and tag IT equipment is simply the methodical way to check that your devices are electrically safe or to identify failures.
PAT testers are used to do the electrical measurements. During PAT testing for IT devices, the technician will connect the tester to the equipment’s power cord and run tests. A handheld tester may emit a tone or display readings. After testing, a durable label is placed on the equipment showing the test status. Even though test-and-tag is mandated mainly for workplaces and hire equipment, it’s good practice for any reused or recycled electronics.
Why Test and Tag Before Recycling?
Testing IT equipment before recycling or disposal serves several important purposes:
Safety for workers and the public
Faulty electronics can cause electric shocks, sparks, or fires if mishandled. For example, a laptop with a damaged power cord could electrocute someone or start a fire at a recycling depot. Testing ensures that every item has been checked for live faults. If a computer fails the test, it is safely segregated and dismantled in a controlled way, preventing accidents like electric shocks or fires.
Compliance with regulations
In Australia, e-waste is often treated as regulated waste. Firms disposing of electronics must document that they followed proper procedures. Test and tag provides a record of safety checks. If an organization ever faces an audit or investigation, having a test-and-tag register can prove that the business takes electrical safety seriously. This is similar to workplace compliance, in the sense that the person responsible for the equipment is legally liable if someone is injured by an untested appliance.
Maximizing reuse and resource recovery
Well-maintained electronics last longer. A regular inspection might catch a loose connection or faulty adapter that can be repaired. Regularly testing devices helps maintain the appliance, so you get as much use out of it as possible. In practice, if a computer passes its safety test and is in good working order, it can be refurbished or donated instead of being shredded. Some e-waste reuse programs actually test and tag items before reselling them.
This maximizes the life of the device and reduces total waste. On the other hand, any items found to have internal damage or missing earth connections would be stripped down or recycled with the knowledge that they are unsafe.
Environmental protection
As noted, e-waste contains toxic materials. Test-and-tag indirectly helps contain these toxins. For instance, if a power supply has a leaking capacitor, tagging it as faulty ensures the unit is broken apart and its hazardous parts are disposed of separately. This prevents toxins from spilling out unexpectedly. In some advanced recycling facilities, only devices that have passed a safety check are allowed into reuse streams, and faulty ones get sent to specialized e-waste processing where hazardous components are safely extracted. In Western Australia, new “e-shed” facilities are being equipped with test-and-tag machines so that all incoming electronics can be tested and sorted into reuse or recycling.
How to Test and Tag IT Equipment
If you have old computers or other electronics to recycle, here is a general procedure to test and tag them safely. Unless you are a certified tester, you may want to hire a professional, but even then, understanding the steps is useful.
Prepare equipment and safety gear
Unplug and power down the device. Gather tools, including a PAT tester, any relevant test leads/adapters, a tag printer with tags, and personal safety gear if needed. Ensure a clear workspace with the device on a stable table.
Perform a visual inspection
Thoroughly inspect both the device and its power cord for any damage, especially look for exposed or frayed wiring, cuts or nicks in the insulation, bent or broken plug prongs, loose or rattling parts, cracks in the casing, or any discoloration and melting that could signal overheating. Also, inspect any power switches or indicator lights. If anything looks damaged, record the defect. A common rule is: if it fails the visual check, it fails overall.
Connect the PAT tester
Attach the device’s power cord to the PAT tester and plug the tester into a mains outlet. Select the appropriate test mode on the tester. For IT equipment, use the attachment plug in the way the device would normally be powered.
Run electrical safety tests
Activate the tester to run its suite of tests. Typically, a PAT tester will check earth continuity, insulation resistance, and polarity. The tester will either give a pass/fail result or display readings. If you detect any failure, then the device should not pass.
Tag the device
Once testing is complete, and if the device passes, attach a new tag to it. The tag, often a durable, weatherproof label, should display the date of the test, the tester’s name or ID, and a “next test due” date according to legal intervals, often 1–5 years depending on usage. If the device failed any test, attach an “OUT OF SERVICE” tag. Mark it as unsafe for use. Remove it from any potential reuse or plug-in queue.
Document and segregate
Record the results, as many testers allow logging into a register. Store any failed items in a safe area. Do not send failed equipment for reuse. For failed IT equipment, consider recovering any data and then sending it for specialized recycling. For passed items, they can now be donated, resold, or sent to an e-waste facility with confidence that they pose no electrical hazard.
Proper Disposal After Testing
After devices are tested and tagged, how they are recycled or disposed of depends on their condition and local rules. If the equipment passed and is still functioning, it might be repurposed or donated. Many councils, charities, or even manufacturers take-back schemes will accept working electronics for reuse. You should still mention that the item has been PAT-tested, even though volunteers retest appliances before offering them to the public.
For equipment that is truly at end-of-life, you must send it to a regulated e-waste recycler. In Australia, this typically means taking it to an approved drop-off or recycler, as you cannot put it in normal garbage or curbside bins. Companies like Cyber Recycling offer free pickup or will shred electronics with certificates of destruction. If you are a business, make sure you engage a certified e-waste contractor who follows regulated waste disposal Australia standards.
No matter what, keep records of which items were tested, what the results were, and where you sent them.
Conclusion
Recycling old computers and IT gear is important for conserving resources and protecting the environment. But it must be done safely. Test and tag IT equipment before disposal is a simple yet important precaution in this process. By inspecting and testing each device via electrical appliance testing, we prevent electrical hazards, comply with laws, and even salvage more reusable parts. This means visually checking cables and plugs, using a PAT tester to ensure circuits are sound, and tagging the equipment with the test date and result. If done correctly, you can hand off your e-waste knowing that every plug, battery, and cord has been verified as safe or faulty, exactly what modern e-waste recycling demands.
