Fund to help recycle e-waste

Hawke's Bay Environment Centre has received a fund from Hawke's Bay Regional Council to subsidise e-waste recycling. Photo/Supplied

Hawke's Bay residents can recycle their e-waste with the help of a Hawke's Bay Regional Council fund.

The Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) environment fund now helps subsidise the cost of people taking their e-waste recycling to the Hawke's Bay Environment Centre.

HBRC earmarks $5000 a year to improving the environment in its Local Environmental Action Fund (Leaf Fund).

Groups, schools and individuals can apply for up the $500 for their project, if they meet the criteria.

The most recent group allocated the $500 grant is the Hawke's Bay Environment Centre in Hastings.

The Environment Centre offers an electronic waste/e-waste recycling service for the region.

The grant means those dropping off their old televisions, computers, stereos and microwaves for e-waste recycling have received a subsidy.

Environment Centre manager Margaret Burgess said the subsidy had been well-received.

"The feedback was all very positive, with some lovely comments.

"Any help we can offer that makes it easier to recycle and not send to landfill is a win for our environment."

Sally Chandler, who administers the fund for HBRC, said while the council has two claims pending, there is still $1000 available in this current financial year.

Visit www.environmentcentre.org.nz/e-waste for more information on recycling e-waste and www.hbrc.govt.nz for more information on Leaf Fund.

Other groups that received a $500 grant from the Leaf Fund are:

Central Hawke's Bay Forest & Bird for the enhancement of Lindsay Bush;

S Smith Wairoa, for a SHMAK kit to assist with Te Waimaori freshwater course through Wairoa Taiwhenua;

Pest Free Esk Hills, Napier - a pest eradication project;

N Plasma, Wairoa - Growing natives for community projects;

Te Kura Kaupapa Maori Wairoa for their native forest and vegetable gardens.