Greater Wellington honours eDay in regional community awards
30.10.2009
In a unanimous decision from the judging panel Computer Access New Zealand (CANZ), organiser of the recent eDay computer recycling event, was awarded the Regional Supreme Award in the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards, held at a celebration dinner at Wellington Airport last night.
The dinner was attended by guest speaker Hon Paula Bennett, Minister for Social Development and Employment and Minister for Youth Affairs along with the Mayors and Councillors from five regional councils - Wellington City, Kapiti, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Hutt City.
The Awards recognise the achievements of community groups in Greater Wellington and throughout the country with categories covering environment, health, education, art and sport. Regional winners competing for the Regional Supreme Award last night included Kapiti's Coasters Musical Theatre, Porirua City's Volunteer Firefighters, Great Start from Hutt City and Prison Fellowship Wellington based in Upper Hutt.
CANZ was selected for eDay's effectiveness in diverting toxic waste from landfills, reusing valuable resources such as gold, reach within the community and for mobilising volunteer support.
"We are a non-profit trust that is passionate about finding alternatives to dumping e-waste in landfills, an issue facing all communities in New Zealand. We are extremely honoured to be the recipient of this award and have our passion recognised by the Greater Wellington community," said Laurence Zwimpfer, chairperson of CANZ and eDay organiser.
eDay, held on Saturday 12 September, is New Zealand's only community-driven national electronic waste recycling event. This year, 16,391 carloads of electronic waste (e-waste) were dropped off at 38 venues from Kaitaia to Invercargill with around 83,000 computer items diverted from being dumped in New Zealand's landfills - totalling 976 tonnes.
Wellington eDay, held at the Westpac Stadium, was again the largest eDay site with 1,998 cars dropping off 97 tonnes of e-waste. eDay began in Wellington in 2006. The Kapiti eDay site at Paraparaumu saw 595 cars drop off 2,484 items or 25 tonnes of equipment.
Over 1,500 volunteers and 100 funding partners, including central government, local authorities, local businesses, computer companies, recycling partners and transport operators, are involved in eDay across the country. Volunteers help to direct traffic, interview drivers about their awareness of e-waste issues and remove computer equipment from cars.
"eDay would not happen without the support of our fantastic partners and volunteers and this award is a tribute to them," Mr Zwimpfer said.
eDay gives people the chance to dispose of their old computer equipment and mobile phones in an environmentally-friendly way and is aimed at raising awareness about the benefits of recycling e-waste.
The Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards are run in partnership with The Community Trust of Wellington and five local councils. CANZ will join Regional Supreme Award Winners from across the country for the national finals in Nelson in March.
CANZ is a not-for-profit trust set up by the 2020 Communications Trust in 2000 with support from the Ministry of Education to promote the reuse and recycling of computer equipment.