New Life for Old Electronics

By ANDERSON, Charles

Some of New Zealand’s 85,000 tonnes of electronic waste will find a safer home after a collection day in Nelson and Tasman tomorrow.

eDay began in Wellington in 2006 in response to concerns that much of the electronic equipment which was thrown away could be safely recycled. The aim was to increase community awareness of the hazardous nature of electronic equipment and to make it clear that disposal in landfills was not a sustainable option.

The collection will be held in the Nelson region for the first time tomorrow. People will be able to drop off unwanted computer equipment and mobile phones from 9am to 3pm at Enza International in Stoke and Fonterra in Takaka.

Nelson waste education services and eDay coordinator Karen Driver said she expected 50 tonnes of electronic waste to be dropped off by people in the region.

“Last year in Wellington they were expecting 10 tonnes and got 50.”

Last year, 12 councils around the country took part in the event, prompting the Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council to get on board this year. Both put in $6000 for the event.

“We asked how can we get involved? We thought about doing it ourselves but the financials and the logistics would have been much too big,” Mrs Driver said.

Equipment dropped off at eDay will go to accredited recycling plants within New Zealand or overseas. Recyclers advise more than 95 percent of computer material can be recycled.

“People need to realise the whole life cycle of computers. It should not be happening, the toxicity of some electronics means there is some horrible stuff which leaks out into the ground. There are some fabulous resources which could be used,” she said.

Computer monitors in good condition will be made available for re- use, the remaining monitors and all other eDay waste will be shipped to DBI Tech Ltd in South Korea for recycling. The equipment is disassembled so that the component materials, including precious metals such as gold, can be separated and re-used in the manufacture of new products.

Mobile phones will be handled by Vodafone which has partnered with Enable Community, a non-profit organisation which provides mobile phones to entrepreneurs in developing countries.

All equipment will be exported under The Basel Convention, which New Zealand and South Korea are signatories to. This ensures the electronic waste exported is sent to a facility with appropriate environmentally sound management and processes.

eDay expects to collect 1000 tonnes nationwide. Mrs Driver has 45 volunteers to help unload vehicles but said she was looking for more.

“We hope traffic keeps moving, that people realise what we are doing is important. If every car goes away thinking more about what they are throwing away then we have won,” Mrs Driver said.

Organisers estimate there is up to 85,000 tonnes of electronic waste a year. Last year, more than 26,200 pieces of computer equipment were collected at 12 venues across New Zealand.

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