What will your do with your old electronics?
Home » Blog » Siobhan Leathley » What will your do with your old electronics?Upgrading your old TV or laptop this Christmas? Unsure what you'll do with your outdated technology? Rather then throwing it out, here's how you can give it away or recycle it
Eighty percent more electronics are soft over the Christmas period than at any other time of year, says Noel Leeming spokesman Jason Bell.
With people upgrading to new and better technology, the amount of unwanted tellies and computers increases. Which begs the question: Is it safe to put them in the rubbish?
"Absolutely not," says RCN e-Cycle spokeswoman Tania Pilkinton. Instead, you can drop off unwanted electronics at one of the 21 locations for e-waste recycling around New Zealand.
A sight to be avoided: whiteware gone to waste
Tania suggests that before dropping off your unwanted electronics, consider whether or not you can give them away – it's not only beneficial for the environment but a great way to share the Christmas spirit.
If this isn't possible, then electronics that can be dropped off include all IT-related products, TVs, consumer electronics, mobile phones and some whiteware. A responsible recycler will aim to process 100% of the e-waste with nothing going to landfill.
Depending on what you recycle, there's a fee. Charges vary by location, depending on whether or not the council in your area subsidises the cost of recycling.
For a full list of items that can be dropped off, click here. If there is not yet a site operating in your area, contact your local council to learn what options are available.
It’s imperative that we start thinking now about what we do with the ever-increasing stream of e-waste," says Tania. "One of the most valuable Christmas gifts we can give our children and theirs is the legacy of a clean and well looked after environment."
