COMPUTERBANK New England is now taking unwanted televisions and monitors for free, in Armidale and Uralla.
Electronic waste (e-waste) is a snowballing issue. The financial burden of processing this waste has now been eased by the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.
It is also an environmental win, due to the heavy metals and other chemicals present in old TVs and monitors.
Armidale Dumaresq Council (ADC) and Uralla Shire Council (USC) are now participants in the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme, facilitated locally by ComputerBank New England (CBNE), which has council supported operations at both Armidale and Uralla waste management facilities.
CBNE has been assisting in the recovery of recyclables from e-waste for many years now, diverting hundreds of tonnes of e-waste from landfill.
President, Robert Patterson, said that he had been actively campaigning for up to eight years to rid the landfills of televisions and CRT monitors.
“I’ve been to several meetings with the Federal Government about the scheme. In the last few weeks, I got in touch with the Minister and he told me about the drop-off points, including Matthews Metal Management (MMM) in Inverell.
“They have provided us with cages for the TVs and monitors and will provide the haulage at no cost – that is covered by the scheme,” Mr Patterson said.
“In Armidale, we get about 200 TVs and monitors a week. In Uralla, we get about 40 to 50 a week. We can now get rid of our stockpiles.”
On behalf of the councils, CBNE will now accept, collect and package e-waste free of charge. It will continue to recover recyclables from e-waste and refurbish computers that can be given another life.
ADC had introduced a $15 charge for televisions dropped off at its landfill site. The charge has now been scrapped and the community is urged to ’do the right thing’.
According to Uralla Shire’s mayor, Cr Michael Pearce, the scheme will be of great benefit to the environment of the Uralla and Armidale Local Government Areas.
“I also welcome the financial relief the scheme provides our communities.”
ADC Mayor, Cr Jim Maher concurred.
“This program addresses the significant e-waste challenge locally, thereby preventing the dumping of computers and other electronic equipment and associated dangerous chemicals into our landfills or elsewhere to avoid charges,” Cr Maher said.
