E Waste and old refrigeration units are unable to be placed in a skip bin, so the best thing to do with this type of waste is to Recycle it. Fisher and Paykel have introduced a new initiative to help encourage recycling.

Members of the public are invited to drop off old, broken or inefficient appliances which are then broken down and recycled. The first 50 drop offs receive up to $150 off a new Fisher and Paykel Appliance. ANY brand of fridge, freezer, washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, oven or microwave will be accepted. There is no cost to drop off appliances.

Near the end of last year the Recycling Day held in Christchurch and Wellington collected 17 tons of appliances that may otherwise have ended up in a landfill.

There will be a further recycling day in Auckland on the 7th of March , so watch this space or go to www.sustainability.govt.nz for upcoming information regarding types of appliances accepted and the location for your event.

If you are in need of a skip bin for other waste visit www.bookabin.co.nz

eWaste is how electrical waste is commonly referred to these days.

eWaste is often able to be recycled, and to avoid overfilling our landfills and to show our environment a little love and respect, recycling is the most positive way to rid ourselves of our old equipment.

A great opportunity to dispose of your old PCs, computer peripherals, mobile phones and digital cameras through eDay on Saturday 12th September.

eDay, a free nationwide computer recycling event, is expected to divert over 1,000 tones of electronic waste (e-waste) from landfills and will enable the recovery of valuable materials such as gold, copper and aluminum so they can be reused. The drive-through event has extended from 32 regions last year to close to 40 regions in 2009. This ensures there is a drop off location close to you!

To find our more and see where your local drop off point is, visit the eDay website www.eday.org.nz

Recycling in Northland

Annually, New Zealanders create 8.7 million tonnes of rubbish. That’s an average of two tonnes per person of waste from all sources. The average Westerner produces 500 kg of “municipal waste” a year (which seems about right, as a proxy for household waste - a 10 kg bag each week). In a month, New Zealand’s rubbish would cover a rugby field and pile it 30 stories high. To ensure that the land of the Long White Cloud is not completely covered in waste, we really need to be more proactive with our recycling.

Here’s a great example from our friends in Northland:

Accessories crafted from recycled materials are growing in popularity as consumers continue to seek out more environmentally friendly products. Plastic supermarket bags, old TV wire and milk bottles are among items being refashioned by Northland artists into high-fashion jewellery. The novel jewellery includes recycled resin pendants and collector-teaspoon necklaces and can be found selling in the Tuatara Design Store in Whangarei.

Check out their website: www.tuataradesignstore.co.nz

Last year the Government passed a new legislation governing waste disposal activities. The Waste Minimisation Act 2008 imposes a $10.00 plus GST levy on every ton of refuse disposed into a landfill. This legislation came into effect on July 1st this year.

The purpose of the levy as outline in the act is to:

• Raise revenue for promoting and achieving waste minimisation
• Increase the cost of waste disposal to recognize that it imposes a cost on the environment, society and economy

(If you wish to find out more about the levy visit www.mfe.govt.nz)

Once this levy is actioned you may find that some suppliers will increase their prices slightly, to absorb this cost. One way to reduce the costs related to waste disposal is to increase your recycling. Take a good look at the waste you have to dispose of and work out which parts can be reused, you may be surprised at the many options available.

Once you decide on the waste that cannot be recycled, take a look at the skip bin prices available at www.bookabin.co.nz.

Using a variety of your local suppliers the site will calculate your requirements to present you with the best price for a skip that matches what you need, when you need it.