Expensive recycling costs for old televisions have created concern about illegal dumping, but viewers should stay tuned for a new scheme set for Otago.
Saddle Hill Community Board chairman Keith McFadyen said high fees for dumping televisions could mean more illegal dumping of televisions.
"People who cannot afford to dump it at the tip may go to other lengths to get rid of their TVs, like throwing them on the side of the road."
At its latest meeting, the board discussed approaching the Dunedin City Council to create a free amnesty for disposing of old televisions, he said.
Council waste strategy officer Catherine Irvine said a free recycling scheme called TV TakeBack was being trialled in Hawkes Bay and the West Coast, where the analogue network had already been switched off.
"We are sure there is going to be an announcement for each region but we can't guarantee [that] what they are doing in the Hawkes Bay and West Coast, they will be doing here."
However, owners of old televisions should keep their old sets to see what the scheme offered when the rest of the South Island went digital on April 28 next year, she said.
Environment Ministry TV TakeBack programme executive Glenn Wigley said the TV TakeBack scheme would be introduced around New Zealand when regions were switched from analogue to digital television.
"We ... have yet to arrange a start date for Dunedin."
The decision on a free promotional period would be made nearer to the launch and he said updates could be found at www.tvtakeback.govt.nz.
