Resource recovery funds Wellington's eWaste recycling every day

PRESS RELEASE - 13th August 2013

"Wellington City is leading the way with our new e-waste recycling partnership" says Celia Wade-Brown.

"When I was Environment portfolio leader, I led a pilot with CANZ and WCC. We initiated eDay as a pilot in 2006, where electronic goods could be dropped off at the Stadium." That idea, with a number of partners, spread around the country but one day a year was never enough.

We have worked with Remarkit for years to reuse and recycle components of phones and computers. "Now we have a free solution for effective e-waste disposal that is not funded by rates." she says. The sale of components from the recyclable part of e-waste will fund the service.

"Wellingtonians are both early adopters of new technology and care about the environment so we need a truly sustainable solution, financially and ecologically." says Ms Wade-Brown. "This is a new part of a strong direction to reduce waste and increase material recovery. For example, we've also expanded plastics collection to include 1 to 7."

People can drop off the following electrical equipment free of charge:

• computers (excluding some older screens), laptops, printers, fax machines, copiers, scanners

• toys, leisure and sports equipment with electronic components, calculators, phones

• toasters, microwaves, fans, fryers, vacuum cleaners, irons, scales

• drills, sewing machines, smoke detectors, regulators, thermostats

• radios, hi-fi, stereos

• DVD and video players, and other home entertainment equipment - except for TVs.

Television sets and cathode ray tube (CRT) computer screens will cost $20 to drop off, in line with other e-recyclers. These screens include leaded glass that must be stripped out and processed overseas.

For a limited time, though, people will be able to recycle your old TV for just $5 at the Southern Landfill as part of TV Takeback, which coincides with New Zealand’s switch from analogue to digital television (Going Digital).

ENDS

© Scoop Media