| E-Waste | | | | next two years. |
| Electronic waste is a fast growing problem world | | | | You may be faced with this problem when you |
| wide. It is most evident in Australia because we are | | | | replace your electronic equipment such as |
| among the highest users of New Technology in the | | | | Computers, Printers, Televisions, VCR's, etc. Many |
| world. The ABS has estimated that e-waste in | | | | councils now are not accepting E-Waste with their |
| Australia is growing at more than three times the | | | | General Cleanups. And dumping products is illegal. |
| rate of Municipal Waste. | | | | I advise you in the first instance to visit e-waste |
| In 2007-08, 31.7 million new televisions, computers | | | | Where you will find some very useful advise |
| and computer products were sold in Australia. | | | | regarding the disposal of unwanted E-Waste. Almost |
| Another 16.8 million units reached the end of their life | | | | 17 million electronic products are thrown away each |
| that year. Of these, 88% ended up in landfill. We are | | | | year so everyone needs to find an acceptable way |
| way behind other developed countries in recycling | | | | of disposing these items. It may eventually become |
| electronic waste. The ABS in 2007 reported that | | | | the responsibility of the manufacturer as it has in |
| around 92.5 million electronic items are held in | | | | some other countries but until the government |
| Australian homes, an average of 22 per household. It | | | | passes an act to this end we must all be responsible |
| estimates Australians will replace 9 million computers, | | | | with our disposals. |
| 5 million printers, and 2 million scanners within the | | | | |