100,000 TVs for recycling and still going

Press Release – 27 November 2013

100,000 TVs for recycling and still going

RCN e-Cycle, a New Zealand owned and managed electronic waste recycling network has recently received over 100,000 TVs for recycling. RCN e-Cycle is an approved recycler in the Ministry for the Environment’s TV TakeBack programme. The programme started in October 2012 and is expected to continue through to March/April 2013. The Ministry for the Environment is providing recycling subsidies for all New Zealanders to drop off their TVs for responsible recycling for only $5 or less per TV. The subsidies are based on a fixed quota per region, so it is a first come, first served basis.

RCN e-Cycle, which is a successful partnership between RCN E-Waste and the Community Recycling Network of New Zealand, provides a convenient, safe and environmentally friendly solution for obsolete TVs and all electronic waste, by recycling them instead of sending them to landfill.

The TV TakeBack programme is now finished in the Hawke’s Bay and South Island (Noel Leeming stores still provide recycling options in these regions), but continues in the North Island. Consumers have been taking advantage of this opportunity to recycle their TVs, for a very low charge and do the right thing for the environment.

Shannon Rea, the RCN e-Cycle account manager has been at the ‘coal face’ of operations of this national programme. Shannon has set up all drop off sites with existing and new RCN e-Cycle partners and co ordinated planning and logistics. He said ‘ It has been a very rewarding year and we’ve achieved great things, culminating in exceeding the 100,000 units which equates to over 2,200 tonnes of recovered materials for recycling.’

The top performing regions so far have been Palmerston North, Central Otago, the Far North, Taupo and Stratford. RCN e-Cycle has 166 national drop off sites and is also working with Noel Leeming and Harvey Norman. All TVs are sent to RCN e-Cycle’s Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch recycling plants for dismantling and components are then recycled back into raw materials in New Zealand or overseas.

The general manager at RCN E-Waste Jon Thornhill said ‘ We are proud of what we have achieved so far with this milestone of 100,000 old TVs and lots more to come. We estimate we are now only half way. We appreciate the support we have received from our CRN partners, the government, various councils, retailers and numerous service providers, including Royal Wolf, who have been instrumental in supporting us with container hire, freight and storage solutions. There is a growing awareness of responsible TV and other electronic waste recycling and we hope more New Zealanders will take advantage of this great opportunity.’
For more information:
Visit www.e-cycle.co.nz or call 0800 ecycle.

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