Recycling scheme targets e-waste
Warehouse Stationery has launched a free e-waste recycling programme in partnership with TechCollect NZ, providing consumers and small businesses with a way to safely and conveniently dispose of their unwanted and end-of-life e-waste.
As students returned to school this year with devices that may have been replaced, the programme provides a convenient and safe way for them to dispose of their old ones, at no charge.
The rollout of the programme, which is a part of the Warehouse Group’s e-waste recycling expansion, will initially be available at 6 participating Warehouse Stationery stores nationwide and aims to divert thousands of kilograms of e-waste from landfill.
Participating stores include Warehouse Stationery East Tamaki and Manukau.
The Warehouse Group chief sustainability officer David Benattar says the company is proud to further support efforts to build Aotearoa’s circular e-waste future with the expansion of the initiative.
‘‘We all have old or unwanted electronic equipment in the cupboard that we don’t know what to do with. Kiwis want to recycle but they often don’t know where to take their items, especially electronics. The programme expansion to Warehouse Stationary not only improves consumer access to an effective recycling solution for a significant waste stream but will also provide valuable insights to inform an ongoing regulated e-waste product stewardship system in New Zealand, Benattar says.
‘‘We are proud to be taking a leadership role, in partnership with TechCollect NZ and its members, in driving this important agenda and making it simpler for people to do the right thing.’’
E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world, with the average Kiwi generating more than 21 kilograms of e-waste a year. It is estimated that nearly 100,000 tonnes of e-waste is generated in New Zealand a year.
More than 52 tonnes of e-waste has been recycled through the programme which was launched by the Warehouse Group and TechCollect NZ at 16 Noel Leeming stores in January last year.
TechCollect NZ senior policy manager Michael Dudley says TechCollect is delighted to be working with Warehouse Stationery and the Warehouse Group to tackle the challenge of responsible e-waste management and forge the way towards Aotearoa’s circular e-waste future.
‘‘The addition of six Warehouse Stationery stores to our national network means that Kiwis have even greater access to free recycling options for their unwanted and end-of-life ICT equipment.
‘‘With the support of the Warehouse Group, we will rescue valuable materials from landfill, help to create more jobs in NZ’s resource recovery sector, make the economy more resilient and achieve impressive environmental outcomes along the way.’’
Items that are accepted as part of the programme include computers, laptops, notebooks, tablets, palmtops, CRT monitors and projectors, LCD, flat panel monitors, printers, scanners, multi-functional devices, cameras, video cameras and computer peripherals, including power supplies and adaptors. Customers are responsible for clearing personal data from devices before dropping it off in store for recycling.
Excluded products include televisions, white goods, non-IT electronics, loose batteries, toner and ink cartridges and mobile phones.