E-WASTE EDUCATION PROJECT

E-waste is now the fastest growing waste stream in Australia, as the public purchases increasing amounts of ever-cheaper electronic products. With planned obsolescence (yes some products only have a useful life of a year or more!), people are increasingly storing old electronic items at home because they don’t know what to do with them, or – worse – they are being dumped in landfill.

If you are interested in learning more about the current state of e-waste in Darwin, you can download the COOLmob E-waste Education Project Report, which was funded by the NT Government. 

Why is it bad for the environment?

The electronic products we use everyday have an impact on the environment and humans. Electronics need inputs of energy and raw materials including metals, oil and water to make, store and transport them. When a product reaches the end of its life, more energy is used for its disposal. If placed in landfill, electronic products don’t breakdown and may release hazardous substances or greenhouse gases. Some of these include toxic contents include lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. Products in landfill also represent a loss of valuable resources.

Tips to reduce, reuse and repair!

• One of the easiest changes you can make is buying less stuff.
• Consider collaborative consumption – its a great opportunity to share items, decreasing costs of purchasing and resources used. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with others in your area and to build stronger communities.
• Sell, swap or giveaway using services like DarwinSwapBuySell, Gumtree, Ebay, Freecycle, Ziilch, or Tradingpost
• Choose products that are long lasting, durable, easy to repair and from ethical companies
• Use the Greenpeace’s Guide to Greener Electronics or the The Shop Ethical app to find out the environmental and social record of companies behind common brands you buy
• By choosing electronic products that are designed with sustainability in mind you are encouraging manufacturers to be smarter about the way they design products and helping society move towards a circular economy
• Re-purpose items at the Shoal Bay Tip Shop
• Join the do-it-yourself repair culture. There is a growing movement of pop up repair café’s, women’s and men’s sheds, and web sites that provide free, easy-to-follow step-by-step advice, repair guides and videos. For free, easy-to-follow step-by-step repair guides and videos, check out iFixit.

Where can I safely dispose of e-waste?

E-waste can be recycled, but not through your yellow wheelie bin. Below is a list of where you can recycle different types of e-waste in Darwin. Something not listed? Check Recycling Near You or Darwin City Council’s A-Z waste and recycling page for more information.

Recycling electronic waste means we are protecting the mineral resources that remain in the ground and reduce the environmental impact of mining, such as ground contamination and diminished biodiversity. It also reduces the amount of landfill that we produce each year; in turn this decreases environmental damage and emissions.