Toxic E-waste Collected

Sydney pats itself on the back after e-waste collection.

More than 11 tonnes of potentially toxic waste has been saved from landfill after the City of Sydney’s biggest ever electronic waste collection on 7 March.

650 Sydney residents attended the Ultimo collection point to dispose of their old TVs, iPods, computers, mobile phones and CDs. The e-waste was enough to fill 57.5 cubic metres.
Since the City’s e-waste recycling program began in November 2008, more than 54 tonnes of potentially toxic waste has been collected, saving up to 273 tonnes in CO2 emissions.

Australians generate 140,000 tonnes of e-waste each year and this figure is growing at three times the rate of ordinary household waste. The vast majority of e-waste is not recycled and ends up in landfill.

The next City of Sydney e-waste collection day is scheduled for 6 June, 2010.