14 October 2008
eDay 2008 saw New Zealanders collect an amazing 946 tonnes of e-waste for recycling - double the amount collected last year! In thirty one centres around the country volunteers received carloads of old computer equipment and mobile phones that will now be recycled.
eDay was held on the 4th October. Operating in 20 more locations than last year, an eager public took the opportunity to dispose of their old electronic waste in a safe way. In Auckland and Wellington 65 and 122 tonnes of e-waste were recorded respectively. The smaller centres put in a huge effort as well, with Whakatane collecting 29 tonnes and Blenheim 22 tonnes. Tauranga recorded 57 tonnes of waste, the third highest total, and had the second highest number of cars visiting their collection point.
Computer equipment and mobile phones of all ages, shapes and sizes were dropped off. Among the loot collected at the weekend were computers from the early 1980s. These were considered collectors' items and have now been put on TradeMe for sale.
“Our aim for the day was to provide New Zealand households with a safe, sustainable way of disposing of their e-waste while at the same educating them about the damage that e-waste in landfills can do to our environment”, said Laurence Zwimpfer, National eDay Coordinator.
“We encourage even more New Zealand households to get behind the event next year”.
Visit the eDay website for more information about e-waste and how to dispose of it after eDay.
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