KEY POINTS:
Thousands of obsolete computers and monitors, printers as big as small tables and cellphones the size of handbags were among the piles of discarded hardware as New Zealanders took advantage of eDay.
The event, which was organised by corporate sponsors and the Government to deal with mountains of old computers and hardware, was a big hit with householders and by yesterday afternoon more than 26,000 items or 293 tonnes of gear had been left at no cost at collection centres throughout the country.
Laurence Zwimpfer, who is the chairman of Computer Access New Zealand trust, said the weekend was a "phenomenal success" in raising awareness of the problems associated with e-waste.
The total collected was more than five times that handed in during a Dell pilot computer recycling day held in Wellington last year.
Speaking from the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau, where 27 tonnes of old hardware had been brought in over the weekend, Mr Zwimpfer said over 10 million electronic devices were being used in New Zealand, and nearly one million were added each year.
"We are probably just scratching the surface with what's happened here over the weekend but it's a very, very good start," he said.
"Most people don't know what to do when they have to get rid of their computers and many don't want to add to our landfills, but at this stage what else can you do?"
Recycling and disposal options were available for paints, oil and fuels but New Zealand was still coming to terms with e-waste, which is far more toxic than household rubbish.
Material such as lead and mercury from old computers was globally the fastest-growing type of waste being sent to landfills and posed a potential toxic hazard for people, animals and the environment, Mr Zwimpfer said.
Hundreds of working monitors will be refurbished in Australia then sent to South Korea for reuse, and computer accessories, such as printers, scanners, keyboards and cables, and mobile phones will go to Singapore for recycling.
Mr Zwimpfer was hopeful a member's bill promoted by Green MP Nandor Tanczos, which includes the possibility of adding the cost of recycling computer hardware once obsolete into the price, will be considered.
"We don't have the infrastructure in place yet to deal with old PCs and monitors like we have for, say, glass or rubbish but it's a priority."
WHERE IT GOES
* Up to 97 per cent of components from computers, including copper wire, polymer coatings, unleaded glass, plastics, steel and other metals, can be reused or recycled.
* Working monitors will be refurbished here and in Australia, then sent to South Korea for reuse.
* Printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, cables and mobile phones will go to Singapore for recycling.
* Copper can be recovered from mobile chargers, and rechargeable batteries contain nickel, iron, cadmium, lead and cobalt.
