About eDay
What is eDay?
eDay is a community initiative designed to raise awareness of the benefits of recycling computers and the hazardous nature of electronic waste (e-waste), while offering an easy way for households and schools to dispose of old computers and mobile phones in an environmentally sound manner.
The event was launched in Wellington in 2006 with an extremely successful pilot sponsored by Dell. Fifty-four tonnes of unused computer hardware were collected in one day. In 2007, eDay was extended to 12 locations throughout New Zealand where a total of 6,900 cars dropped off 415 tonnes of e-waste.
In 2008, at 32 sites across the country, a further 946 tonnes of e-waste was diverted from New Zealand landfills. This included more than 87,000 computer items including monitors, CPUs and printers.
eDay 2009 was extended to include 38 centres from Kaitaia to Invercargill and resulted in 976 tonnes of e-waste being diverted from landfills. 16,432 cars from across the country dropped off over 83,000 computer items to be recycled.
eDay 2010 saw everyone from students to Ministers volunteering on the day and resulted in over 900 tonnes of e-waste being collected at 53 drop off locations across the country.
Unfortunately, there will be no national eDay electronic waste collection in 2012. Despite strong interest from local communities and support from eDay partners, eDay cannot proceed without substantial central government support.
More about eDay
What is e-waste, how is eDay trying to solve the problem in New Zealand, and what can you do to help out?Watch this video to find out more.
The aims of eDay
- Increase community awareness of the benefits of recycling computers and the hazardous nature of electronic equipment, making it clear that disposal in landfills is not a sustainable option.
- Provide a mechanism and convenient drop-off points for households, schools and community organisations to dispose of computer equipment and mobile phones that are no longer being used.
- Recycle obsolete computer and communications equipment in an environmentally sound manner.