With Christmas fast approaching, TechCollect, a free not-for-profit national electronic waste (e-waste) recycling service, is asking Aussie households to recycle their unwanted computers and TVs, before Santa makes another drop off.
Australia is leading on a global scale when it comes to technology consumption with an estimated eight billion dollars spent on Christmas gifts each year – and the latest technology gadgets continue to top the wish list.
“As consumers, our hunger for new technology continues to grow, and with many of us on the lookout for the latest gadgets, we create an increasing pile of used resources. Technology products contain resources that can be recovered and put back into the manufacturing process which saves our finite resources and energy; in fact, it is many times more efficient to recover resources from products than to mine new resources,” said Carmel Dollisson, CEO, TechCollect.
“These resources are lost forever if disposed of inappropriately such as to landfill and, worse, may be damaging to the environment. With Christmas just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to take responsibility for the products we consume when we have finished with them. If you have unwanted computers or TVs lying around the home please take them to your local TechCollect drop off point for responsible recycling.”
Top 5 tips for the Xmas overhaul:
- Xmas wishlist: What’s on your Christmas wishlist? Are you replacing a laptop or television? If so, put a note in your diary to recycle the older device, and make a visit to your local e-waste drop-off point after Christmas. You can find TechCollect sites at techcollect.com.au, or if there isn’t a TechCollect service in your area, check out Planet Ark’s website recyclingnearyou.com.au for other options for free drop-off.
- Declutter: While a lot of e-waste ends up in landfill, a lot more gets stashed in cupboards, garages, spare rooms and shelves. If you were the lucky one chosen to host Christmas this year but you’re not sure where to fit everyone, it’s the perfect time to declutter. Recycle it all and your home, guests and the environment will thank you.
- Handmedowns: Do you have a computer or TV that is still in good working condition that you’re not quite ready to let go of yet? Give it to a family member or friend and make it an early Christmas present.
- Detangle: Those random power cables from your old TV, computer and printer can also be recycled by TechCollect, even if you don’t know which cable belongs to which device – bring them with you to your nearest TechCollect site.
- Spread the Christmas cheer: What is your place of work doing with their old computers and IT equipment? Encourage them to send a company-wide email with a call out for old technology devices, so they can do a group drop off to a local collection site.
