eDay a big success

More than 44 tonnes of old computer equipment and mobile phones has been handed over in the first hour for recycling and disposal at the country's first national eDay.

The free drive-through event is being held in Invercargill, Wanaka, Alexandra, Queenstown, Wellington, Wanganui, Rotorua, Whakatane, Tauranga and Hamilton from 9am to 3pm today (Saturday 29 September), and on Aucklands North Shore and Manukau City from 10am to 2pm tomorrow (Sunday 30 September).

National organiser, Laurence Zwimpfer, said the response around the country in the first hour had been fantastic. In Wellington, nine cars a minute were delivering old computer equipment and mobile phones at the Westpac Stadium carpark. More than 600 cars have taken part across the country in the first hour.

eDay gives people the chance to dispose of their old computer equipment and mobile phones quickly in an environmentally-friendly way, and is aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of e-waste dumped in landfills.

Mr Zwimpfer said e-waste and its toxic materials, including lead and mercury from old computers, is globally the fastest growing type of waste being sent to landfill - posing a potential toxic hazard for people, animals and the environment.

He said more than 250,000 obsolete computers are being stored in New Zealand homes. A recent survey by the CANZ estimated over 10 million electronic devices were being used in New Zealand, with nearly one million being added each year.

A Dell pilot computer recycling day held in Wellington alone last year resulted in 54 tonnes of home computer equipment being collected.

Only computers, computer peripherals, gaming consoles and mobile phones can be disposed of in the eDay collection. Other electronic equipment including televisions will not be accepted.

CANZ advises people to wipe all data from hard drives as well as removable media such as floppy disks and PC cards before handing them over for collection.

eDay 2007 is a drive-through event and is open to cars only. Businesses and schools are advised to visit www.eday.org.nz for alternate disposal options and more information about e-waste.

eDay 2007 is supported nationally by Computer Access New Zealand (CANZ), The Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Education, 2020 Communications Trust, Divers, Remarkit, TES-AMM, Dell and Trade Me.

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