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