Central Coast Council is now accepting unlimited quantities of household e-waste that can be dropped at all three Waste Management Facilities for free.

The change has come about following a new contract arrangement to help maximise resource recovery and reduce the amount of electronics ending up in landfill.

Council Unit Manger Waste Services and Business Development, Andrew Pearce said e-waste is recognised as the fastest growing waste stream with over 700,000 tonnes generated nationally.

“Here on the Central Coast e-waste is one of the most common items placed in household bins and bulk kerbside collections,” Mr Pearce said.

“When e-waste is collected and compacted in a mixed waste collection truck it becomes a missed opportunity to retrieve and reuse the precious metals and other resources while also unnecessarily consuming landfill space.

“We accept all the traditional items such as televisions, computers and printers, but thanks to this new arrangement we can now also accept any electrical product with a cord that does not contain liquid.

“Last year we recycled more than 135 tonnes of e-waste and with the number of new items that can now be dropped off we are hoping we can continue this upward trajectory.”

E-waste collected at Councils facilities is temporarily stored and then bulk transferred to an e-waste processing facility in Sydney where it is shredded and sorted using advanced technology that creates high-quality raw materials for reuse.

“Research has shown that people are suspicious about dropping off items with their personal details,” Mr Pearce added.

“All data on devices is destroyed during the dismantling process, however, if you have any concerns reset and erase all data from devices before dropping them off.”

Mayor Lisa Matthews said Council is committed to delivering options where the community can easily recycle and reuse products.

“We all have old phones and other e-waste that we don’t use anymore lying around the house,” Mayor Matthews said

“This is a great opportunity to get rid of it all knowing it will be reused and have a future as a new product.

“This excellent initiative demonstrates what local government can achieve to help improve recycling systems that move towards a more circular economy.

“Last year we paid more than $29 million via the Waste Levy and received less than half a million back to reinvest into waste minimisation, recycling and resource recovery.

“We are now calling on the State Government to work collaboratively with council’s and release some of these funds to develop innovative approaches to resource recovery.”

Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/ewaste for a list of accepted e-waste materials and Council’s Waste Management Facility locations and opening hours.

ENDS