Changes to e-waste recycling in Aotearoa

Auckland-based electronic recycling company Computer Recycling says 80,000 tonnes of e-waste is produced in Aotearoa every year but only 2% of that is recycled. The rest ends up in our landfills. This country is one of the largest creators of e-waste in the OECD but the only country not to have any regulations in place for its management.

Fortunately there are changes coming that have us feeling optimistic. In July of this year, funding and regulations to reduce e-waste were announced. Some will fund a study on reducing e-waste going to landfill, and there’s a funding boost for Auckland-based e-waste company TechCollect. This means more drop-off points nationwide and money to develop a national e-waste stewardship scheme.

The best way to tackle e-waste is with the first principle of recycling: reduce. This might seem strange advice from a technology company, but the reality is wherever there’s an opportunity to avoid unnecessary new hardware you’re saving a dollar and sparing the environment.

We strongly recommend reusables where possible (ie, batteries), future-proofing electronics and taking advantage of cloud-based solutions. When choosing new equipment, we look at repairability and EPEAT ratings as well as performance and reliability.

As part of the Brightly commitment to reducing and recycling e-waste, we work on a principle of first upgrading, repairing, or both. When equipment needs to be replaced, we ensure that e-waste collection is included in the process. We’ve been recycling our e-waste with Computer Recycling for the past three years, managing 620 kg of eWaste in the past six months alone, making 2020 our highest volume to date.

Reducing and recycling e-waste is of enormous benefit to everyone. Discarded e-waste can contain potentially toxic materials – the kind we don’t want accumulating in our soil – as well as valuable, reusable precious metals. So, it’s worth pausing before deciding something is useless and ready for the rubbish bin.

Our e-waste tips:

  • The following items can be recycled: televisions, printers, radios, computer parts and accessories, phones, whiteware, appliances, batteries, cables and wires. Collections are run throughout Aotearoa, just visit eWaste, Abilities Group, Computer Recycling, TechCollect or Upcycle.

  • Buy Eneloop Pro AA and AAA rechargeable batteries, plus spares so you aren't caught out while one set is charging. The Quick/Smart charger is best.

  • Build a reuse-and-recycle mentality into your business culture. Share recycling tips internally, display a prominent battery-collection bucket, and repair and reuse laptops and mobiles before purchasing new.

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