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E-waste is electronic and electrical waste of all types and Council has identified that the disposal of e-waste is a growing problem.
Council hosted it's first ever e-waste drop off day for residents on Saturday 19 February 2011 at Collimore Park which was a great success. We collected over 57 tonnes of e-waste! The e-waste will now be dismantled and all the separate components (including glass, plastics, and metals) will be recycled locally.
Council is continually investigating the best methods for the collection and disposal of e-waste.
Frequently asked questions about E-waste
Q. What is e-waste?
E-waste is electronic and electrical waste of all types, and includes but is not limited to, TVs, computers, sound equipment (such as stereos and CD players), VCRs, DVDs, and electronic toys.
Q. What is Liverpool City Council's view on e-waste?
Liverpool City Council has identified that the disposal of e-waste is a growing problem and is interested in arranging an ethical and environmentally-friendly disposal of this waste for our residents.
With the constant advancement of new technologies, the amount of e-waste is increasing each year. The incorrect disposal of e-waste can potentially cause significant environmental impacts on our soil and groundwater, flora and fauna. Council is currently looking at options to provide an e-waste collection for residents.
Q. What can residents of Liverpool do when it comes to recycling electronic waste?
Liverpool City Council strongly encourages reuse. If the electrical/electronic appliance is still in good working order, it is always better to ensure the item is reused rather than dismantled for recycling or disposed to landfill. Give the item to a family member or friend or check with your local charity if they are willing to accept your appliance. Alternatively, you could advertise on a recycling network such as Freecycle. These are usually free to join and there is no charge to advertise.
¡§Freecycling is when a person passes on, for free, an unwanted item to another person who needs that item. From silverware to mobile homes, people worldwide are choosing to freecycle rather than discard. The practice frees up space in landfills and cuts down on the need to manufacture new goods¡¨. (Definition sourced from www.freecycle.net)
If you wish to take your item to be dismantled and recycled, visit www.recyclingnearyou.com.au for locations of e-waste recyclers located within the Liverpool region. These companies may charge you a fee to dispose of your e-waste.
As a last resort, the item can be disposed using Council's Household Clean Up Collection Service. Each resident is entitled to two free Household Clean ups and unlimited metal collections per year. Click here for more information about Council's household Clean Up Collection Service. Residents need to call Council¡¦s Customer Service Centre on 1 300 36 2170 to make a pickup booking.
Remember: DO NOT dispose of e-waste in your red, yellow or green waste bin. Illegal dumping is a crime.
Q. What is Liverpool City Council doing to solve the problem of e-waste?
The Australian Federal Government is in the process of setting up a national collection and recycling scheme for televisions and computers which is expected to be up and running in 2011.
This basically means that manufacturers of electronic and electrical items will be responsible for the recycling of their branded e-products. Click on this link for more information http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/waste/ewaste/index.html.
In the meantime Council is investigating the best methods for the collection and disposal of e-waste. Recovery and disposal methods need to be reviewed in regards to a number of factors including suitability and availability of a collection site if necessary, sufficient Council resources and sourcing an ethically-orientated local e-waste recycler.
E-waste recycling is an expensive and labour-intensive process and therefore usually attracts a cost. Council will always endeavour to offer our residents a minimal-cost disposal option for the recycling of e-waste.
For more information about e-waste please phone 1300 36 2170 and ask to speak to Council's Waste Projects Officers.
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