KEY POINTS:
New Zealanders have an appetite for new technology. We own an estimated 10 million electronic devices and buy one million new ones each year.
But as our enthusiasm for the latest gadgets grows, so too does the problem of disposing of out-of-date mobile phones and computers.
This weekend people will have a chance to get rid of their electronic waste, safe in the knowledge that nearly all the parts of ageing mobiles and PCs can be recycled.
More than 250,000 unused computers are thought to be stored in New Zealand homes, but the organisers of eDay 2007 say up to 97 per cent of the components can be reused or recycled.
National organiser Laurence Zwimpfer said eDay aimed to raise awareness of the problems associated with e-waste - the world's fastest-growing type of waste and much more toxic than ordinary household rubbish.
He said e-waste contained materials such as lead, mercury and carcinogenic plastics which had the potential to harm the environment, wildlife and human health when dumped in landfills.
"[Electronic devices] may look safe, but it's the hidden things that have such damaging effects," he said.
eDay was launched in Wellington last year and saw 54 tonnes of unused computer hardware collected in a single day. This year, the event is being held over two days at locations nationwide.
All equipment taken to the designated drop-off points will be sorted by volunteers and shipped to recycling plants in New Zealand and overseas.
Reusable materials from computers include copper wire, polymer coatings, unleaded glass, plastics, steel and other metals.
Working monitors will be refurbished in Australia, then sent to South Korea for reuse. All computer accessories, such as printers, scanners, keyboards, mice and 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.
Mr Zwimpfer said world supplies of some of these metals could be exhausted as early as 2015, also highlighting the need for robust recycling programmes. eDay provided the best option for households looking to dispose of their e-waste in an environmentally safe way.
The event is run by the Computer Access New Zealand Trust with the support of corporate sponsors and the Government.
