RCN e-Cycle ready to go for TV TakeBack

25 March 2013

DRAFT – RCN e-Cycle ready to go for TV TakeBack

RCN e-Cycle is welcoming the launch of TV TakeBack in the South Island, with 7 drop-off sites* ready to accept TVs for recycling from Monday 25th March and a further 27 preparing to open within the next 2 to 4 weeks.

RCN e-Cycle spokesperson Karen Driver said with a network of sites across the country, RCN e-Cycle is committed to making TV TakeBack a success. Our website www.e-cycle.co.nz provides details of all our TV TakeBack sites.

“Since RCN e-Cycle was established two years ago, our priority has been making safe, responsible recycling of TVs and electronic waste accessible to as many New Zealanders as possible.

“With the South Island going digital on April 28th, we’ve set up 20 pop-up and temporary sites to reach even more people.

Ms Driver said that one of the benefits of TV TakeBack was that some of the temporary sites would morph into permanent RCN e-Cycle drop-off sites.

“We already have 50 sites nationwide, and we expect to have more at the close of TV TakeBack. We’ve achieved our initial vision of being a nationwide network.”

Noel Leeming and Harvey Norman will be involved in TV TakeBack with support from RCN e-cycle. These relationships provide additional opportunities for the public to recycle their TVs. Full details will be released shortly.

Ms Driver said that electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world, with most electronic items being designed for a life span of less than five years.

“In a few decades, we’ll look back and kick ourselves for throwing phones and computers containing valuable metals into the landfill.

“Mining the metals contained in our old electronics is much better for the environment than mining virgin materials out of the ground.”

Ms Driver said that dumping TVs in the landfill was potentially harmful to soil and water because they contained toxic chemicals.

“It’s just an incredibly short-sighted thing to do. I don’t think there’s any way we could continue to claim to be a clean and green nation if we weren’t taking responsibility for our electronic waste.

TV TakeBack is a nationwide programme funded by the Waste Minimisation Fund to stop TVs being dumped in landfills whilst New Zealand is going digital. RCN e-Cycle is one of three recyclers chosen to support the Ministry for the Environment’s initiative.

ENDS

* The following RCN e-Cycle drop-off sites will open on March 25th:

• RCN e-Cycle, 81c Buchanans Road, Hornby, Christchurch

• Onsite Distribution, 36 Byron Street, Sydenham, Christchurch

• Bloomers Groomers, 113 Crinan Street, Appleby, Invercargill

• Blenheim Resource Recovery Centre, Withers Road, Blenheim

• Blenheim Transfer Station, Withers Road, Blenheim

• Picton Transfer Station, Gravesend Place, Picton

• Havelock Transfer Station, Queen Charlotte Drive, Havelock

For details of all sites and their opening dates please check our website www.e-cycle.co.nz

About RCN e-Cycle

RCN e-Cycle has a network of over 50 drop-off sites around New Zealand. Private computer recycling company RCN has partnered with the Community Recycling Network to make the project a reality.

RCN e-Cycle has received funding from the Waste Minimisation fund to provide a long-term everyday solution to recycle electronic waste.

RCN e-Cycle notes you don’t need a new TV to go digital but you are likely to need some new equipment, so the public need to be aware they don’t need to replace their old TVs, but if they do so they should do it responsibly. Check out the Going Digital website www.goingdigital.co.nz for details of the equipment needed.

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