Diverting e-waste from landfill

E-waste recycler, Computer Recycling, celebrates the milestone of processing more than two million kilograms of e-waste for the year to March 2023.

Estimates suggest New Zealanders produce up to 100,000 tonnes of e-waste per year, with only two percent of it being recycled. Through enhanced recycling capabilities, Computer Recycling is now capturing two percent of the country’s e-waste on its own.

Through sustainable recycling and reuse practices, Computer Recycling has brought the nation one step closer to eradicating e-waste from general landfills. The scale of this waste reduction plays an important role in helping Aotearoa deliver on its future waste minimisation goals.

This milestone has come on the one-year anniversary since Computer Recycling’s launch of the world’s eighth, and New Zealand’s only, BLUBOX e-waste shredder and MSS optical sorting machine.

Patrick Moynahan, Computer Recycling’s MD (pictured), says the implementation of the world leading BLUBOX technology has been an integral move forward in helping the company reach this point.

“BLUBOX has played an important role in helping us achieve this incredible milestone, having processed hundreds of thousands of kilograms of e-waste since its launch. Combined with the great work of our team and the existing processing systems we have in place, we’re now capturing the equivalent e-waste produced by 80,000 Kiwis[*].

“In March alone, we received 300,000 kilograms of e-waste for processing, a figure which continues to grow month on month. As we enter a new phase of growth, it’s exciting see what we’ve accomplished and get a taste of what lies in store for the months ahead,” says Patrick.

Since establishing in 2018, Computer Recycling has been committed to helping Kiwis reduce their carbon footprint and be more environmentally conscious, offering a range of services to help individuals and businesses recycle e-waste responsibly.

“Aotearoa is one of the worst offenders when it comes to e-waste, with the average Kiwi producing 20 kilograms of e-waste per year, one of the highest amounts per capita in the developed world,” says Patrick.

“It’s clear New Zealand has a lot of room to grow with sustainability, and the nation’s waste production figures are testament to this. But we’ve recently seen a huge shift at Computer Recycling, having received a record- amount of e-waste.

“This suggests New Zealanders and Kiwi businesses alike are showing more consideration towards their waste and looking for alternatives, rather than sending unnecessary waste to landfill.

“It’s great to see to see this behavioural shift, and with climate-related reporting becoming mandatory for listed organisations, we expect local businesses will be focusing on sustainability even more this year.”