The world dumps up to 50 million tonnes of computers, televisions, phones and other appliances each year. They are loaded with potentially deadly chemicals, and could become a toxic time bomb unless we take more care about what we throw away.
"We estimate that there's around 75,000 tonnes of electronic waste going to landfill every year," Steve Dixon of the Ministry of the Environment says.
E-waste is anything with a plug or battery. Much of it, we're just throwing away.
It's packed with toxic nasties, and if they leach out of
landfills, there is a chance they could end up in our water system,
and then in us.
"Some of these chemicals are very toxic, things like lead many
people are aware can cause brain damage and inhibit brain function,
particularly in children. Other things like cadmium and
barium and beryllium - these can be cancerous or carcinogenic,"
Dixon says.
But some e-waste can be recycled.
Auckland based company Ark spruces up old computers and sells them to schools that can't afford new ones.
"We've put 2 million kilograms of computers back on desks since the company started, that's between 70,000 to 100,000 computers," Ark managing director Cory Dyer says.
But around two million more are thought to be sitting in cupboards and garages around the country along with cellphones people simply don't know what to do with.
"The poor consumer is stuck with this problem they want to do
the right thing but it's not made easy for them," e-waste expert
Laurence Zwimpfer says.
Both Telecom and Vodafone offer a recycling service for over the
hill cellphones, but computers are harder to deal with.
"Maybe hang onto them until there is an e-day," Zwimpfer
says.
New Zealand's first "e-day" - a waste collection just for
electronic rubbish, is scheduled for later in the year.
"You can then put your computer equipment and old televisions out and know they will be safely taken care of," Zwimpfer says.
In the meantime the government is working on long term solutions such as getting manufacturers to take more responsibility.
For consumers, it's changing the culture of the upgrade.
"People getting used to the concept, a bit like cars, we've gotten
used to the fact that you don't have to have a brand new car.
People need to get used to the fact you don't need a new computer,"
Dyer says.
But if you do, think before you biff.
