Electronic Waste

Recycling electrical goods, batteries and fluorescent globes

In 2007-08, 31.7 million new televisions, computers and computer products were sold in Australia. Another 16.8 million units reached the end of their life that year. Of these, 88% ended up in landfill. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2010)

Electronic Waste (E-waste) contains many dangerous heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium, which can be released into our environment, when disposed of in landfill.

There are also many valuable materials and resources that can be reused in the production of new electronic items, such as copper and gold.

The responsible recycling of e-waste is therefore becoming a growing issue for Australia and Australians.

The City of Burnside introduced an electronic waste recycling subsidy program for residents in January 2009. This program aimed to encourage residents to re-consider the disposal of e-waste to landfill, by offering residents an option of having their e-waste recycled responsibly at affordable prices.

The City of Burnside in partnership with Zero Waste SA and E-Cycle Recovery offers Burnside Council residents the opportunity to have their e-waste recycled at one third of the normal recycling costs (relevant conditions are detailed below). Recycling with E-Cycle Recovery ensures that your e-waste items are diverted from landfill for reuse into new products.

The increase in residential utilisation of the subsidy program, since it's introduction has been significant. The City of Burnside would like to acknowledge, congratulate and thank all of our residents who have participated in this program - your committment to the responsible recycling of your e-waste is highly commended and we encourage others to follow your lead.

If you have any unwanted electrical items that you no longer want, but do not know how you can dispose of them responsibly, or if you are not sure what you can do with old or flat batteries and expired fluorescent globes, please read on......

The City of Burnside and Zero Waste SA are subsidising the cost of recycling e-waste for residents by two thirds.

This means that Burnside Council residents will only pay one third of the normal recycling costs when un wanted e-waste is delivered to E-Cycle Recovery, thus making it more affordable to recycle un-wanted electronic waste responsibly.

The following conditions apply

• Residents are required to show proof of address when they visit E-Cycle Recovery (drivers licence or recent rates notice).
• This subsidy is NOT available for businesses or for commercial quantities.
• Items must be taken to E-Cycle Recovery at Gepps Cross (address and operating hours listed below).

E-Cycle Recovery

Where

This subsidy program allows residents to dispose of unwanted electrical items at E-Cycle Recovery Pty Ltd

• 12-14 Baulderstone Road, Gepps Cross
• Phone (08) 8262 4074

Please note the change in drop off location

When

• Monday to Friday 7:30am - 2:30pm
• Closed Saturday, Sundays and Public Holidays

Electronic item price list (what the resident will pay at E-Cycle Recovery)

Further information and a full list of items accepted can be found at the E-cycle Recovery website http://www.ecyclerecovery.com.au/ or by phoning 8262 4074.

**Residents will need to display a current driver's licence or rates notice to verify residency when disposing of items. Please note that the subsidy is not available to businesses or for commercial quantities.

Fluorescent globes

Fluorescent globes and tubes cannot be placed in the recycling side of your bin. The mercury powder contained in them is a significant contamination concern for the broader recycling industry.

All forms of fluorescent lighting can be recycled at E-Cycle Recovery Pty Ltd.

Alternatively, SA householders can simply drop of their end-of life globes at the checkout counter of any Mitre 10 store. Mitre 10 stores will accept a wide variety of light globes including Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs), fluorescent globes, incandescent globes, and halogen lamps, tubes and globes (they will not accept commercial globes/quantities).

To find your local Mitre 10 store visit http://www.mitre10.com.au/.

Australian Computer Society (ACS) PC Recycling Program

If you have computers in working order that you're no longer using and would like to make them available to others who will benefit from their use please take them to the ACS PC Recycling Program. Their minimum specification is Pentium IV 2Ghz CPU.

Where

This program allows residents to dispose of unwanted computers in working order through the ACS PC Recycling Program

• 54 King William Street, Kent Town
• Phone (08) 7127 1581

When

• In the Afternoon between 2pm - 7pm