eDay 2009
Have you ever wondered what to do with that old computer hard drive or monitor that sitting dusty in the cupboard or old mobile phone that no longer works because the battery life was so short or that old digital camera that you no longer use because you upgraded to a newer model? One way you can reduce your e-waste (computer and other electronic waste equipment) is to drop it off at the annual eDay event being held across New Zealand tomorrow.
“eDay is a cars-only drive-through recycling event which gives you the opportunity to recycle old computers or mobile phones in an environmentally sustainable way.” This year they hope to divert over 1,000 tonnes of e-waste from landfill.
For Christchurch and Canterbury residents go to the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Curletts Road (Christchurch) from 9am to 3pm to drop off any old and unwanted computer equipment or mobile phones. Sift CEO Linda Norris will be there as a volunteer to help with the e-waste collection. There is also a drop off at this same time at the Hurunui Recycling Council Depot (81 Carters Rd, Amberley) for North Canterbury residents.
Recycling your old equipment this way ensures all the little parts inside can be recovered and reused. This also ensures that any of the toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury are recovered responsibly (sitting in landfill they could leach out into the surrounding environment causing long term damage). Many of the materials that go into making computer and mobile phone equipment can take hundreds of years to break down. The eday.org.nz website explains that e-waste is more toxic and hazardous than household waste and details what the environmental and health effects are.
A full list of what you can and can’t drop off is here (don’t forget to delete all your personal information from hard drives and cellphones before dropping them off).
The Ministry for the Environment information on e-waste is here.
