Year Round Electronic Waste Recycling Now Available

A newly launched initiative has brought electronic waste recycling to the Tasman/Nelson region. The Nelson ReUse and Recycle Centre in Vivian Place, Tahunanui is now accepting electronic waste for recycling as part of the e-Cycle Project.

Electronic waste is a growing problem in New Zealand with an estimated 80,000 tonnes of computers, televisions and electronic appliances disposed of every year. The e-Cycle Project aims to divert as much of this waste as possible from our landfills into recycling.

Read more information about recycling electronic waste.

Electronic devices are a complex mixture of several hundred materials. Some are valuable, like gold, silver, platinum and palladium, which occur in the circuit boards of desktop computers. However, many devices such as TVs and CRT monitors contain toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and beryllium, and hazardous chemicals such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Generally, the older the equipment, the more toxic material it contains.

The e-Cycle Project is a partnership between recycling company RCN and the Community Recycling Network, with support from the government's Waste Minimisation Fund, Tasman District Council, Nelson City Council and Nelmac.