Are you a Waster?

H ave you implemented an electronic waste programme? If not, why not? And if you have, do you really know where your waste is ending up?

Electronic waste, or e-waste, is the collective noun for our broken-down, obsolete or surplus electronic devices including computers, mobile phones, TVs, faxes, etc. It is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. Did you know that, unlike other countries, it is not illegal in New Zealand to dump e-waste in landfills where these toxic devices then taint groundwater for years to come? Unfortunately, if there were a ban, this may only encourage more illegal dumping in an even less safe manner. What is needed is programmes initated by local councils to encourage consumers to place them in local drop-off points.The question is, who is responsible for this waste before it reaches a landfill? Is it the manufacturers? The consumers? The government? Who has to pay the price of dealing with this toxic subject? Currently the problem resolution seems to fall on the shoulders of activists and volunteer community members willing to gather the electronic waste in preparation for disposal overseas. eDay was held in September 2009 and 976 tonnes of e-waste was saved from landfill. Working equipment was packed for re-use, and the rest was processed or stored for shipment to an approved recycler overseas (New Zealand can only export e-waste to countries that have a Basel Permit). The Basel Convention is an international treaty for the shipping of hazardous waste between countries. In particular, it prevents the transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries. The eDay web site states that: “This ensures that all equipment is processed using good international practices, including protecting the safety of workers and maximising the recovery of materials. Recyclers are reporting that over 95% of all the component materials (steel, glass, copper, etc) in computers and monitors can be recovered and reused.” New Zealand does not have the sophisticated automated recycling stations required to handle e-waste safely. The value of the recovered materials covers the shipping costs, so the process is worth it to make the effort to send it to professionals overseas.

Unfortunately this does not prevent illegal shipments of equipment going out. Computers contain a lot of toxic components including lead, mercury and cadmium. However, the recyclable materials such as gold, silver and platinum make it worth the effort for unscrupulous dealers. The toxic materials are a danger to the people handling and breaking them down, and later to the planet, as they contaminate the air and the waterways.Large PC companies are starting to take some responsibility for the issue; in New Zealand, HP has drop-off centres for HP branded equipment, as does Dell. You can take several steps to ensure that your recycling of e-waste is as green as your ability to separate paper and plastic in the office.It pays to think about the end-of-life for your equipment when considering new purchasing agreements. If you can't wait for the next eDay, there are e-waste recyclers that use only Basel- approved programmes. Make sure you are careful in choosing your recycling company. Ones not shipping according to the Basel Convention, or who are not willing to talk about where their waste is recycled and how it is handled, are to be avoided. Lastly, you need to lobby your local council for a ban on e-waste in landfills.