E-Waste Outcasts Want a Home, Tell Garrett
Friday, 12 December 2008 02:03
The report, “Tipping Point: Australia’s E-waste Crisis” to be presented to Peter Garrett’s office at 10am Friday 12th Dec, outlines Australia’s spiraling electronic waste problem as millions of computers, televisions, mobile phones, compact fluorescent lamps and other e-waste products make their way into landfill every year.
“This is the motherboard of all problems,” said Jeff Angel, TEC Director. “Federal and State governments must act to stop the dumping of millions of electronic items in landfill, each year. They’re recycled overseas; the community and business want the same here.”
“We’re talking 37 million computers, 17 million televisions, 56 million mobile phones in landfill or on their way there by the end of 2008 with less than 4% recycling rate. And it’s only going to get worse. Australians are among the top 10 ten consumers of electronic technology in the world, however Australia has fallen behind the rest of the developed world because it lacks responsible end of life management for these products.”
Electronic products contain toxic materials such as mercury, lead, arsenic brominated flame retardants, beryllium and cadmium which are leaked from landfill into the environment.
“Inaction from State and Federal governments on the issue has seen the lack of environmentally responsible options for electronic waste reach crisis point. We are asking the Environment Ministers to act swiftly on regulating to support the television industry’s product stewardship scheme and mandate producer responsibility for the collection and recycling of all end-of-life computers and mobile phones.”
“We hope to see Peter Garrett take the lead,” stated Mr. Angel.
The media stunt taking place this morning (12th Dec) will see “E-Waste Outcasts” in the form of malfunctioning computers converging on Peter Garrett’s office, 77 Phillip St, Sydney at 10am. Media are encouraged to attend and interviews can be arranged with Jeff Angel from TEC and Fraser Brindley from Environment Victoria.
To download the report click here.
To see a full list of E-waste recyclers, go to TEC's Computer Recycling Guide by clicking here.
