E-waste is the fastest growing waste problem globally, and New Zealand is not an exception. eDay 2009 was run across 40 towns and cities nationwide on September 12th, providing a free electronic waste recycling service to the public - a positive alternative to landfilling which allows up to 95% of the waste to be recycled and valuable materials reused. eDay also focuses on educating the public about the hazardous nature of e-waste. The numbers for eDay are as impressive as the idea: 2009’s eDay saw more than 83,000 items collected, making up 976 tonnes of hazardous waste that would have otherwise ended up in our landfills. This came from 16,400 cars around the country.
Waste which was accepted included computers, computer-related items (e.g. printers, keyboards) and mobile phone. In 2008, around 20% of total waste collected came from schools. Dunedin’s eDay was supported by the Dunedin City Council, OPR Fullcircle, Interwaste, Earthlight and the New Zealand International Science Festival, as well as many other community groups who provide valuable volunteers and services on the day.
In September 2008 the Waste Minimisation Act was passed into legislation, and while it may be another 3 years before domestic e-waste recycling schemes are fully operationation, e-Day provides a positive alternative in the meantime. Part of the equipment collected will be processed directly, while the rest will the shipped to fully certified recycling systems in South Korea where 95% of all materials can be salvaged for re-use. eDay give people the chance to dispose of their old computer equipment and mobile phones quickly in an environmentally-friendly way, and is aimed at raising awareness about the importance of recovering and reusing valuable metals (copper, aluminium) and other materials (plastics, glass) as well as the environmental and health dangers of dumping e-waste in landfills.Event updates will be posted on the eDay website, www.eday.org.nz, as details are confirmed. Volunteers wishing to help out at an eDay in their area are invited to sign-up online at the eDay website.