Electronic waste in New Zealand

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Bin full of E Waste taken at Computer Recycling Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand (2019)
An electronic waste stockpile in Christchurch (2004).

Electronic waste in New Zealand is an environmental issue being addressed by community and government initiatives.

E-waste is the fastest-growing toxic waste stream in New Zealand. Every year, as of 2017, New Zealand generates approximately 99,000 tonnes (20.1 kg per capita) of electronic waste, of which 97,000 tonnes is disposed of in landfills. New Zealand lags behind many of our major trading partners in terms of e-waste legislation.

In the past, there have been two Government-funded takeback initiatives carried out: the e-Day collections, and the TV takeback campaign. E-waste recycling services provided by local government vary by council with some providing free recycling services,[1] while other councils provide user pays services or rely on the private sector.[2]

E-waste can be turned into e-scrap by recycling it, and promisingly, New Zealand has a small but growing e-scrap processing industry"[3]

Background[]

In 2006 there was an estimated 3.4 million televisions, 3.3 million mobile phones, 1.9 million computers and monitors, and 600,000 laptops.[4] In the same year a survey showed that two-thirds of respondents were willing to pay for safe disposal of electronic waste such as televisions and computers. The remainder were unwilling to pay anything or were unsure. The survey also showed that 85% were willing to take items to a neighbourhood collection point.[5]

"The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) singled out New Zealand and Australia in a report published overnight on Wednesday, saying they together produced the highest volumes of e-waste in the world while noting they had among the lowest documented rates for recycling" [6]

Takeback initiatives[]

Electronic waste being collected during eDay in Dunedin, 2008

eDay[]

Main article: eDay

eDay was a nationwide collection programme for electronic waste which ran from 2006 to 2010 in up to 53 different locations.[7] An estimated total of 3200 tonnes of electronic waste were collected and recycled. The 1000 tonnes collected in 2008 equates to approximately 10% of electrical and electronic devices imported in a year and less than 5% of historic electronic waste.[8] The event did not run in 2011 or any subsequent year, because the government ceased to provide funding.[9]

Legislation[]

International conventions[]

New Zealand signed the Basel Convention in 1989 and ratified it in 1994.[10] The Basel Convention is an international treaty to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries. Electronic waste can be of a type defined under the convention.

It was not until 2006 that the first application was made for export of hazardous waste under the Basel Convention.[11]

Domestic regulations[]

The main legislation which regulates e-waste is the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 which enables the provision of voluntary and mandatory product stewardship programmes and introduced levies on waste sent to landfills. Product stewardship programmes are developed jointly by industry and government and place the responsibility for managing the life cycle of a product with the manufacturer, importer, retailer and user of the product. These programmes aim to shift the environmental costs of waste arising from the products from the taxpayer and consumer primarily to the producer such that the end of life of a product is considered in the producer's design and business decisions.[12]

Until 2020, electronic waste had not been designated as a priority product and therefore did not require mandatory product stewardship programmes. Nevertheless it was possible to be accredited for a voluntary stewardship programme. SHARP, RE:MOBILE and Fuji Xerox are the electronics companies which were accredited for the voluntary programme.[13] In June 2020, Associate Minister for the Environment Eugenie Sage announced that electronic waste would be one of the six new products to be classified as a priority product.[14]

Government initiatives[]

In 2010, $400,000 was allocated towards setting up collection depots and recycling centres around New Zealand.[15]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Buller District Council, New Zealand » E-waste collection" (in American English). Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  2. ^ Blake, Vicktoria; Farrelly, Trisia; Hannon, Jonathon (2019). "Is Voluntary Product Stewardship for E-Waste Working in New Zealand? A Whangarei Case Study". Sustainability. 11 (11): 3063. doi:10.3390/su11113063.
  3. ^ "Toxic timebomb: The impact of e-waste on our environment | Scoop News".
  4. ^ Electrical and Electronic Equipment Survey January 2006: A Quantitative Report. ME765. Ministry for the Environment. June 2006. ISBN 0-478-30100-6.
  5. ^ Electrical and Electronic Equipment Disposal Survey April 2006: A Quantitative Report. ME764. Ministry for the Environment. April 2006. ISBN 0-478-25999-9.
  6. ^ "UN-backed body 'right' to single out New Zealand as an e-waste laggard". 14 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Tonnes of eDay waste in storage". Stuff. 2011-01-03. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  8. ^ Hoeveler, Jennifer-Ann (1 January 2009). "International Approaches to dealing with electronic waste". New Zealand Journal of Environmental Law. 13: 117–160 – via HeinOnline.
  9. ^ http://www.eday.org.nz/template/media_questions__answers.pdf
  10. ^ "Importing or Exporting Waste in New Zealand (Basel Convention): Requirements" (PDF). Ministry of Economic Development. November 2004. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
  11. ^ Beston, Anne (12 August 2006). "'Toxic time bombs' ticking away". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
  12. ^ "2 Product Stewardship". Ministry for the Environment (in British English). 2005-07-01. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  13. ^ "Government-accredited schemes". SBN product stewardship (in American English). Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  14. ^ "Government to regulate environmentally harmful plastic packaging, tyres, e-waste". The Beehive. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  15. ^ Beehive (6 October 2010). "Govt steps up e-waste recycling". NZ Government. Retrieved 10 October 2010.

External links[]

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