“There is currently a lot more the corporate sector can do to take responsibility for the e-waste it generates, and to make a positive impact on the environment and wider community.”
For the second year, TechCollect, an industry-funded electronic waste recycling service, is calling for Australian businesses to play their part in building a sustainable future by recycling unwanted e-waste on 8 December.
Research from Planet Ark reveals the most commonly recycled material in the workplace is paper with almost three quarters (72 per cent) of employees recycling this regularly, but when it comes to e-waste, only 36 per cent of employees are recycling computers and accessories.*
With 82 per cent of employees** wanting to see more e-waste recycling in their workplaces, TechCollect’s Waste Not, Want Not Day gives businesses a reminder to open up the storage room and hand over old office supplies for responsible recycling.
To get involved on Waste Not, Want Not Day, businesses can follow these three easy steps:
- Gather all your unwanted and unused e-waste from around the workplace
- Call 1300 229 837 to see if you qualify for a free pickup
- If you don’t qualify for a free pickup, find your nearest free drop-off point at http://techcollect.com.au/our-locations/
“It’s crucial for recycling to be viewed as a civic duty for all of us, but it’s also important for businesses to try and take some of the weight off consumers’ shoulders, as it often falls unfairly on individuals to do the right thing,” says Ms Carmel Dollisson, CEO of TechCollect.
“There is currently a lot more the corporate sector can do to take responsibility for the e-waste it generates, and to make a positive impact on the environment and wider community. Instead of businesses letting e-waste accumulate, we’re encouraging them to make a pledge to support Waste Not, Want Not Day on 8 December by recycling their e-waste at their nearest TechCollect drop off site or calling us direct if they have a substantial amount that we may be able to collect,” Dollisson adds.
TechCollect is an industry-funded, not-for-profit recycling service for computers, computer accessories and TVs. It was established in response to the government’s National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme, which set out an obligation for importers and manufacturers to take responsibility for the safe disposal of e-waste.
As technology consumption continues to rise, it’s critical that businesses become more active participants in sustainability and promote awareness of responsible recycling throughout the year.
The festive season is the perfect time for employers and employees to clear offices of clutter ahead of the New Year and, at the same time, take shared responsibility for their e-waste. Dollisson says education is vital, not just for better workplace practice but for employees at home.
“Precious metals exist in e-waste and if we don’t recycle products those metals are lost to landfill,” Dollisson says. “Recycling means that these valuables can be recovered and put back into the manufacturing process.
“If we want Australia to build a more effective and adaptable system, an environment in which responsibilities are more evenly shared between consumers and business needs to be created. Getting companies to commit to ‘Waste Not, Want Not’ Day is a fantastic way to build a habit that can last throughout the year.”
To find a designated drop-off site closest to you, visit: http://www.techcollect.com.au/
* Planet Ark, 2016. National Recycling Week. So You Think You Can Recycle Report, http://recyclingweek.planetark.org/documents/doc-1451-nrw-2016-report-so-you-think-you-can-recycle.pdf
** Parry-Husbands, H., Villani, C. 2013. Green Pulse Report – September 2013 (Wave 23). Prepared for Planet Ark. Sydney, Australia: Pollinate
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