Technology is a wonderful thing – until it comes to disposing of it.
Research from the University of New South Wales has revealed Australia has a growing mountain of ‘e-waste’, and is lagging far behind other developed nations in the disposal of electrical and electronic products.
Computers, televisions, smartphones, washing machines, air-conditioners, freezers, hairdryers, electric toothbrushes, vacuum cleaners – the list of e-waste products is huge.
Professor Graciela Metternicht from the School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences says Australia’s management of e-waste is “ineffective and poorly implemented” in comparison to leading nations such as Japan and Switzerland.
“This means that precious metals are not being recycled and hazardous materials are going into landfill instead of being properly dealt with,” Metternicht explains.
“Lots of e-waste contains valuable and finite metals such as gold, indium and palladium, as well as hazardous ones like lead, arsenic and mercury. Sending it to landfill is not just a threat to the environment – it’s also a significant waste of valuable resources.”
Metternicht’s research showed the volume of e-waste is increasing; fewer than 1% of televisions and about 10% of computers and laptops are recycled.
The figures are in stark comparison to Switzerland, which recycles 16 times more e-waste per person than Australia, recouping 75% of recoverable material.
Many Australians still throw their e-waste in the general waste wheelie bin, which is then taken to landfill.
Local government "neglected"
Part of the problem, Metternicht says, is that local governments are not receiving the support needed to tackle the problem.
“Local governments are crucial here: they manage the most e-waste and have the closest and most influential relationship with the public when it comes to recycling,” she says.
“But they are neglected in the system, receiving no direct funding for the collection, recycling, and recovery of e-waste.
“Meanwhile, there is no responsibility on consumers to recycle their e-waste. This reinforces the 'out of sight, out of mind' attitude that many Australians have to their rubbish.”
Compounding the problem, Metternicht says those who do make an effort to recycle their e-waste face the challenge of not knowing which products can be recycled and where.
“The services on offer vary greatly between different local governments, and not everyone is within reach of a drop-off point," she explains.
Other key issues within the Australian system the research identified are:
• Recycling laws that don’t cover the full scope of e-waste
• Poor services and public engagement
• Outdated recycling and recovery targets
• Weak auditing and compliance measures
Despite the challenges the disposal of technology creates for local governments, there are some programs resulting in great outcomes.
In its first six months, Kempsey Shire Council’s free Mobile Community Recycling Centre service collected 50 tonnes of material, and saw a reduction in e-waste ending up in landfill, or being illegally dumped.
Read more about the council’s project here.