Click photo to enlarge
Computer collection: Waste strategy officer Catherine Broad
(left) and eDay co-ordinator Roslyn Saunders relax on more
than 140 computer monitors from schools around Dunedin.
Schools were given the opportunity to dispose of their
unwanted computer items before the official eDay collection
this weekend.
This Saturday, Dunedin will join 35 other New Zealand
centres in the quest to reduce electronic waste, also known as
e-waste.
EDay is a community initiative designed to raise awareness of
the hazardous nature of e-waste while offering an easy way
for people to dispose of unwanted computer items such as
hard-drives, printers, ink cartridges and monitors.
Dunedin's e-waste drop-off point will be at the NZWH
Woolstore on Orari St, between 9am and 3pm this Saturday,
October 4.
EDay Dunedin co-ordinator Roslyn Saunders said the event was
not just about computer recycling, but educating people not
to dump their e-waste in landfills.
‘‘People should get involved if they care about the
environment, wildlife and human health,'' Ms Saunders said.
‘‘Land-filling e-waste stores potentially toxic waste rather
than allowing for recovery and reuse of valuable materials.
‘‘EDay is a simple, free and effective way to dispose of your
household computer waste and mobile phones in an
environmentally sustainable way.''
Based on national statistics and Dunedin's population, eDay
organisers are anticipating about 900 cars bringing 59 tonnes
of e-waste to Dunedin's first eDay.
Dunedin's eDay event will cost about $90,000, with the
majority of the funding provided at a national level and the
shortfall covered by the Dunedin City Council.
Globally, e-waste is the fastest-growing waste being sent to
landfills and it has potentially hazardous consequences for
the environment and human health.
Lead found in computer equipment is highly toxic for plants
and animals, and can damage the nervous system. Mercury,
which is also found in computer equipment, is also highly
toxic and can cause brain damage in unborn children.
People wanting to get involved should erase all data from
their computer's hard drive and remove any discs and PC
cards. If disposing of a mobile phone it is important to make
sure it is disconnected, all content has been erased and the
Sim card has been removed.
All equipment will be sorted on the day, before being shipped
to recycling plants within New Zealand and overseas where
reusable material such as copper, plastics, unleaded glass
and steel will be recycled.
All mobile phones that cannot be reused will be sent to
Singapore for recycling. Around 90 per cent of materials used
in mobile phones can be recycled. The aim of eDay is to
divert 1000 tonnes of e-waste from landfills.
In conjunction with Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin schools have
been given the opportunity to dump their e-waste before the
official eDay drop-off.
Story by Michelle McCullough
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