The Sutherland Shire Council will hold a free electronic waste collection event this weekend, at Bellingara Netball Centre parking lot, with the goal of keeping tonnes of electrical waste out of landfills.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) reports that just half of Australia’s annual e-waste of over 500,000 tonnes gets appropriately recycled.
According to Clean Up Australia, Australians generate about 20 kg of e-waste per person each year, which is almost three times the global average.
Amelia Grace, a volunteer for sustainable development with So Shire and The Reconnect Project said the event is essential for giving discarded technology a second life.
“Most e-waste items can be recycled,” Ms Grace said.
“It’s important for people to check the council’s website or the EPA’s guidelines before dropping things off.”
By 2030, the country’s e-waste is predicted to increase by 30 per cent to 657,000 tonnes.
Only a third of computer and TV parts are recovered, despite the fact that over 90 per cent of them can be recycled.
This contributes to 70 per cent of the hazardous chemicals found in waste and sends $430 million worth of precious materials to landfills.
“Everything collected at events like the Miranda e-waste drive is sorted and sent to accredited recyclers; metals, plastics and glass are separated and re-used to make new products.
“It’s a huge step in keeping these materials out of landfill,” Ms Grace said.
Local resident James Henderson, a father of four from Miranda, said his family plans to attend the event.
“We heard about the collection through the council newsletter and thought it was the perfect chance to clear out the garage,” Mr Henderson said.
“It’s good for the environment, and it’s a great way to teach the kids about doing the right thing.”
Mr Henderson said recycling would be simpler if there were more frequent events or a permanent drop-off location.
“It’s definitely getting easier to recycle in the Shire, but with a busy family, more frequent events or a permanent drop-off point would make a big difference,” he said.
Ms Grace said that the forthcoming FOGO rollout will inspire locals to consider waste in a more thoughtful manner.
“Improper organics sorting encourages better recycling practices for all types of waste, including e-waste,” she said.
The Shire’s waste future may include permanent e-waste drop-off facilities, according to council data from this year’s events.