RCN e-Cycle , a new electronic waste collection facility, is scheduled to open in Hamilton in January 2012. The new facility, at 8A Jolly Street in Frankton, will collect and disassemble a range of domestic electrical appliances (“e-waste”) so components and materials can be reused and recycled in an environmentally ethical way . The site will be operated by Raglan-based recycling organisation Xtreme Waste Incorporated, in conjunction with nationwide company RCN Group. Council has committed $24,000 towards the first year’s lease of the Jolly Street site. The funding is sourced from Council’s waste levy income which is generated through a nationally targeted rate on landfill disposal and administered by the Ministry for the Environment. Councils are required to allocate these funds towards waste minimisation activities.
RCN Group has transparent and effective separation and processing methods, and has demonstrated to Council the components and materials of the electronic items will avoid conventional dumping methods and proceed to certified international recyclers. Materials which have to be sent offshore go to ISO 14001 accredited factories. Circuit boards will be shipped to Japan for further processing and reuse of precious metals, leaded glass from TV and computer screens will be shipped to Australia for recycling, while metals, clean glass (from part of cathode ray tube televisions) and cabling will be reused by New Zealand industries for various products.
Electronic waste is one of the fastest growing and most toxic waste streams. Electronic items contain toxic heavy metals and chemicals that can harm land, water and people. The Ministry for the Environment estimates 80,000 tonnes of e-waste goes to New Zealand landfills each year. RCN Group estimates its collaboration with Xtreme Waste, on behalf of Council, will divert between 120 and 250 tonnes of electronic waste from landfill every year. The new national network of e-Cycle sites replaces the eDay programme which was never a long-term solution.
E-Cycle Hamilton will be a permanent facility, initially open four days per week (Tuesday/Wednesday and Friday/Saturday) from 9am to 4.30pm. The facility will operate on a “user pays” basis: customers who offload large TVs will be charged $20 per unit, $2 per keyboard, and $5 per computer hard drive. Photocopiers and toner cartridges can also be disposed of at the site. Although there will be a small charge for disposal, customers can take confidence from the fact their e-waste will be dealt with in an ethical and environmentally-friendly way.
