Taranaki turns on to TV recycling

13 September 2013

Taranaki people have recycled more than 1500 old TV sets in the past fortnight, taking advantage of a special offer in the run-up to the switch to digital broadcasting at the end of September.

And the good news is it’s not too late to join in the bargain-basement recycling – at a cost of $5 a set instead of the full charge of $20 – but it’s a good idea to act sooner rather than later. Old TVs can be dropped off at:

• New Plymouth: Whitaker Civil Engineering Ltd, 37 Corbett Rd, Bell Block –  Saturdays, 8am to 1pm.

• Stratford: Transfer Station, Cordelia St – Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 2pm-5pm; Wednesdays, 10am-1pm;  Saturdays and Sundays 1pm-5pm.

• Hawera: Egmont Refuse and Recycling, 19 Scott St –  Monday to Friday 7.30am-3.30pm.

The recycling drive is an initiative of the region’s four Councils, with funding assistance from the Ministry for the Environment.

“The campaign started on 24 August and the response has been great,” says the Taranaki Regional Council’s Director-Environment Quality, Gary Bedford.

“Each district has a subsidy quota based on population, and Stratford is over halfway there with 226 TVs recycled so far. In New Plymouth, 1100 sets have been recycled, which is 33% of its quota, while the 232 sets recycled in South Taranaki represents 19% of the district quota.

“We know there are a lot more old TVs out there that will become redundant with the switch to digital broadcasting, so we’re hoping New Plymouth and South Taranaki in particular will rise to the challenge and do as well as Stratford.”

TV sets contain hazardous materials such as lead, cadmium, phosphorous, mercury and brominated flame-retardant plastics. Recycling ensures these  toxic materials are kept out of waterways and landfills.

ENDS

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