The e-Waste Issue in Aotearoa: What It Means and What We Can Do
Electronics don’t belong in landfill.
Technology has been credited with reducing a lot of consumption around the globe. The ability to send letters, share documents, and find information online has cut down immensely on paper use, transportation costs, and other waste.
However, with the increase in digital devices arises another issue: they end up in landfills and cause a huge amount of harm to the environment due to their batteries and chemical components. How can we responsibly dispose of them? Better yet, how can we reuse or recycle them?
We’re taking a look at e-waste in Aotearoa: the impact it’s had and continues to have, the scale of it, and how we can minimise the effects.
The impact of e-waste
The disposal of digital devices is a fast-growing global problem. In a world where many people like (or need) to regularly upgrade their tech for the latest and greatest features, there are growing mountains of discarded devices in every nation.
It’s not just about the sheer amount of landfill that’s being created, either. This review is one of the many that dive into the toxic nature of this type of waste. It can:
Leach toxic substances into the air and soil.
Contaminate groundwater which can affect agriculture and manufacturing downstream.
Release traces of various toxic, carcinogenic gases and metals which are a threat to human health.
Research makes it clear that throwing e-waste into landfill and other traditional disposal methods are not viable options. In Guiyu, China, the e-waste dismantling industry has caused “severe pollution” to the local environment. This study indicated that inhabitants’ excessive exposure to heavy metals, primary lead, “has been associated with multi-system and long-term effects in neonates and children, covering nervous, cardiovascular, adaptive immune, and hematologic systems as well as chromosome and DNA damage.”
The e-waste situation in Aotearoa
While the e-waste issue in Aotearoa is not at the level of that in Guiyu, it is ever-increasing. The current estimates are that we produce more than 80,000 tonnes of e-waste per year, of which a vanishingly small percentage is recycled. A lot of it ends up in landfills. Some is illegally disposed of in unprotected farm dumps which leach large amounts of chemicals into the soil and waterways.
When it comes to electronics, our clean, green image does not stand up to scrutiny. New Zealand has in the past been identified as a leading e-waste producer, above the OECD average. It is also the only country in the OECD without a national e-waste scheme.
Simply put, we have one of the largest e-waste problems in the world. And it will only get bigger unless it is thoroughly addressed in the near future.
The Right to Repair
The Right to Repair movement, led by the US-based Repair Association, is a very positive voice advocating for reducing
e-waste by addressing the root of the issue. Many corporations encourage repeat purchases by making it impossible or impractical to repair appliances and devices. This is done by limiting access to parts, tools, and information, by voiding warranties, and by intentionally designing products to be difficult to fix.
Intending to maximise profits, companies who engage in anti-repar tactics also significantly increase the amount of e-waste generated by their consumers. The Right to Repair movement has been gaining traction globally. Even Steve Wozniak, founder of Apple which has historically been notorious for its closed systems and insistence on authorised repairs only, has spoken out in favour of the mission. Legislation that breaks down the barriers to repair has been introduced in various parts of the world. As an example, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act in the USA states that warrantors cannot require that only branded parts be used with the product in order to retain the warranty.
Currently, there is no real “right to repair” legislation in place for Aotearoa. Local voices are advocating for changes to the Consumer Goods Act to make spare parts more easily accessible. It is hoped that the current review of the Waste Minimisation legislation will see the right to repair better enshrined in law.
In the meantime, as is often the case, grassroots movements and groups are attempting to fill the gap. Our own Recycle A Device initiative encourages businesses and individuals to donate devices to be repaired, upcycled, and distributed to those who need them to promote equitable access to tech in Aotearoa. Another group to note is Repair Cafe Aotearoa, where volunteers offer their expertise to community members and repair electronics, clothing, toys, and more.
How to responsibly dispose of e-waste
Although there is no nationalised e-waste initiative, various companies and community groups do provide options and services intended to reduce the impact of e-waste on our people and environment. Here are some of the ways you can get rid of your unused electronics.
Donate them to a good cause! Recycle A Device has collection points in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown, or it’s easy to send them to our data security partner in Auckland. Donated devices are refurbished and used to teach and equip rangatahi to participate fully in the digital world. Community members can learn how to repair and build electronics, and functioning devices are gifted to those who need them.
Use an e-waste recycling service. There are several companies and organisations that will take old electronics off your hands and recycle them where possible: Noel Leeming offers this, a convenient option for many New Zealanders. TechCollect NZ, a not-for-profit collaboration of leading electronics retailers devoted to product stewardship, also has drop off locations around the country.
Trade them in or sell them. If your old phone or computer is still working, it’s worth putting them on Facebook Marketplace or TradeMe rather than throwing them in the bin. Even if they go for peanuts, they will stay out of landfill for longer—and some people will buy and use old electronics for spare parts, contributing to a more circular economy. Just make sure you completely wipe your personal data before doing this!
To simplify it, anything with a plug or charger should not be simply thrown in the rubbish! The extra effort required to dispose of e-waste responsibly will pay off in spades for future generations who inherit the whenua.
Of course, the best way to minimise e-waste is to use things for longer. Sometimes, poor quality and planned obsolescence means this is out of our hands. If you’re someone who loves to invest in the latest and greatest technology, maybe think about opting in to every second new release instead of all of them—it will save money as well as the environment! Where possible, buy second-hand or from trusted brands with longer-lasting, repairable products.
Minimising the harm caused by e-waste is something that sits comfortably alongside our digital equity mission. Through Recycle A Device, we are actively contributing to a solution. Rather than seeing tech in landfills, we’d love to see it given a new lease on life and helping young people succeed! If you’d like to support RAD or any other DFA initiatives, please feel free to reach out to our team and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn to join the conversation.
