Waitaki residents will get the chance to dispose of old computers and other electronic products for free next Saturday.
The offer is part of eDay, launched in Wellington in 2006 by the Computer Access NZ Trust.
It aims to raise awareness about the benefits of recycling computers and the hazardous nature of electronic waste, while offering an easy way for households and schools to dispose of computers and phones in an environmentally sound way.
Waitaki District Council solid waste officer Gerry ONeill said yesterday eDay had come to Oamaru for the first time, thanks to funding from the Ministry for the Environment and other organisations and the support of the Waitaki Resource Recovery Trust.
Mr ONeill said electronic waste (e-waste) was the fastest growing type of waste in the world and was more toxic than normal household rubbish.
Dumping e-waste used up space in landfills, and the opportunity to recover and reuse valuable materials from these items was lost.
Electronic waste could also contain hazardous substances, such as lead and mercury, with a risk of leaching into surrounding land and waterways.
Waitaki households and small businesses can drop off their e-waste at the Waitaki Resource Recovery Park between 9am and 3pm on Saturday.
E-waste includes computer equipment (hard drives, monitors, scanners and keyboards), mobile phones and cameras.
Televisions, radios, stereos, DVD and video players and other home appliances cannot be accepted.
