KEY POINTS:
About 1000 tonnes of toxic waste are expected to be diverted from landfills during a day dedicated to recycling old computers and mobile phones.
Kiwis can dispose of the items at 32 centres throughout the country free of charge as part of eDay on Saturday and Sunday.
The drive-through event is aimed at raising awareness about the environmental and health dangers of dumping electronic waste (e-waste) in landfills and the benefits of recycling.
At last year's event 415 tonnes of e-waste were diverted from landfills throughout the country.
Computer Access New Zealand Trust chairman Laurence Zwimpfer said e-waste - and its toxic materials, including lead and mercury from old computers - is globally the fastest-growing type of waste being sent to landfill. It poses a potential hazard for people, animals and the environment.
"Our aim with eDay is to educate New Zealanders of the dangers of dumping e-waste in landfill while giving them the opportunity to dispose of unwanted computer items and mobile phones in a safe way."
Other electronic equipment, including televisions and stereos, will not be accepted at the event.
"We know that TVs and other electronic equipment pose similar threats to our environment, but because of the huge variety in size and weight of this equipment, we don't think it is fair to ask volunteers to handle TVs."
All computers will be sent to Computer Recycling Ltd in Auckland for testing. PCs still operational will be donated to non-profit organisations and low-income families.
Non-working computers will be shipped to a Korean plant which will dismantle them to make new products such as road signs. About 95 per cent of a computer's parts can be recycled.
Vodafone will send the cellphones to entrepreneurs in developing countries through a project called Enable Community.
All other mobiles will be sent to mobile recycling facilities around the world for re-use of materials such as copper, plastic, gold, silver, lead, zinc, nickel, iron, cadmium and cobalt.
eDAY SITES
All open 9am to 3pm.
Kaitaia: Kaitaia Resource Recovery Centre, Church Rd, Saturday.
Kaikohe: Kaikohe Waste Station, Station Rd, Saturday.
Whangarei: The Paper Reclaim Ltd, Kioreroa Rd, Saturday.
Auckland: University campus, Morrin Rd, Mt Wellington, Saturday.
Tauranga: Satara Packhouse, 207 Totara St, Mt Maunganui, Saturday.
Whakatane: Recycling Park, 60 Te Tahi St, Saturday.
Rotorua: Former Challenge petrol station, Te Ngae Rd, Saturday.
Opotiki: Resource Recycling Centre, Wellington St, Saturday.
Hamilton: Mainfreight, Foreman Rd, Te Rapa, Sunday.
