Valuable resources saved from the scrapheap - eDay aims to clean up Otago’s e-waste

Otago residents can dispose of their old PCs, computer peripherals, mobile phones and digital cameras at eDay on Saturday 12th September.

eDay, a free nationwide computer recycling event, is expected to divert over 1,000 tonnes of electronic waste (e-waste) from landfills nationally and will enable the recovery of valuable materials such as gold, copper and aluminium so they can be reused.

Following the success of last year’s event, eDay will be held again in Dunedin at OPR Fullcircle on Saturday 12th September from 9am – 3pm. The goal is to divert 45 tonnes of e-waste from landfill.

“eDay is only possible because of the fantastic level of local support. It's a great way to educate about an issue most people haven't thought a lot about – and one of the few opportunities the public has to dispose of e-waste for free.” said eDay Dunedin organiser Susan Smirk.

The drive-through event is part of a national eDay being held in over 40 centres across the country. Other Otago locations running eDay drop-off points this year include Queenstown, Wanaka and Alexandra.

“Wanaka and Queenstown organiser, Jeremy Bisson of Wanaka Wastebusters, said eDay gives Otago residents the chance to do the right thing with their computer and mobile phone waste.

“People often have old computer gear sitting around, that they don’t really know what to do with. eDay is the only free coordinated drop-off service offered nationwide, so I really encourage people to make the most of it and bring all their old computer gear down to be recycled.”

National Organiser and Chairperson of Computer Access New Zealand (CANZ), Laurence Zwimpfer, said e-waste is the fastest growing and one of the most challenging waste problems in the world and New Zealand is no exception; over 87,000 computer related items were diverted from local landfills at last year’s eDay. “Computers contain many valuable resources which can be recovered and put to good use. Our aim with eDay is to educate New Zealanders about the benefits of recycling computers while providing convenient drop-off points for them to dispose of unwanted computer items in a safe way,” said Mr Zwimpfer.

The annual eDay event is now in its third year and is the only national community-driven e-waste recycling event for dropping off computer items such as monitors, CPUs and printers, at no cost to the public.

CANZ advises people to wipe all data from computer hard drives as well as removable media such as floppy disks and PC cards before handing them over for recycling.

Only computer equipment, mobile phones and digital cameras can be recycled in the eDay collection. Other electronic equipment including televisions and stereos will not be accepted. “We know that TVs and other electronic equipment pose similar threats to our environment, but because of the huge variety in size and weight of this equipment, we don’t think it is fair to ask volunteers to handle TVs,” said Mr Zwimpfer. “The best advice we can give is for the public to hold onto their old TVs until sustainable solutions are available.”

All equipment collected as part of eDay will be recycled by accredited international recyclers. Items in good condition can be donated to genuine charities through www.donatenz.com or sold on www.trademe.co.nz. Mr Zwimpfer said the very successful charity auction for antique and collectable computers organised in 2008 with the generous support of Trade Me means the auction will be held again this year. “There was a lot of nostalgia last year as many old-time computer users were able to get their hands on equipment that for many was their first computer,” said Mr Zwimpfer.

eDay 2009 is a drive-through community event and is open to cars only. Businesses and schools or organisations with large quantities of e-waste are advised to visit www.eday.org.nz for alternate disposal options and more information about recycling options.

The event is supported nationally by The Ministry for the Environment, the 2020 Communications Trust and the Ministry of Education which funds the Computer Access NZ Trust. National transport operator KiwiRail and international e-waste recyclers CRTNZ are national partners again in 2009. Corporate sponsors include Meridian Energy, More FM, Dell, Canon, Printlink, The Laptop Company, Invo, Trade Me and NZICT.

People wanting to drop-off e-waste at the Dunedin event can go to OPR Fullcircle, at 85 Fryatt St on Saturday 12 September from 9am to 3pm. For more information please contact the local coordinator Susan Smirk on 027 600 3022 or email smisu749@student.otago.ac.nz.

In Queenstown, e-waste can be dropped out at the Recycling Centre, 110 Glenda Drive, Frankton. Queenstown eDay is supported this year by QLDC, Smart Environmental, and Wanaka Wastebusters.

Wanaka's drop-off site is at Wanaka Wastebusters, at the corner of Riverside and Ballantyne Roads, Wanaka. Wanaka eDay is supported by QLDC and Wanaka Wastebusters. Alexandra residents can take their e-Waste to Central Otago Wastebusters, Boundary Road.

For details of eDay 2009 sites across the country, visit www.eday.org.nz.

ENDS

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