Lagging behind

Despite the sweeping environmental claims made by some manufacturers, staff often failed to provide basic information about recycling options.

Even if a company doesn't offer a take-back scheme, staff should be able to tell consumers about other options. Wellington's e-waste depot at Trash Palace has been operating for some time yet only one retailer seemed to be aware of it. LG and Sony told us they were briefing customer service staff about e-Cycle and adding information to their websites about recycling options.

Karen Driver, spokesperson for the Community Recycling Network (which has partnered with RCN to set-up e-Cycle sites), says manufacturers and retailers are "key" to reducing the e-waste problem. She says e-Cycle is a direct response to the lack of industry action: "We felt we couldn't keep sitting around and waiting for something to happen".

Karen believes industry players are aware of the e-waste problem but says there's a reluctance to act unless everyone does. She says e-Cycle is continuing to talk with the industry about its role. No manufacturer or retailer has yet provided financial support for the project.

Garth Wyllie, executive officer of the Consumer Electronics Association of New Zealand (CEANZ), says industry hasn’t been silent. When regulation was on the cards in 2008, he says industry players proposed a levy on new TVs to fund their recycling. But a change of government saw plans halted.

Garth says CEANZ still supports a mandatory product stewardship scheme for e-waste: "A voluntary approach isn’t going to work – unless there are rules that apply to everyone, there’ll always be companies that opt out."

Environment Minister Nick Smith says further work is being done to "explore product stewardship for electronic goods". But firm plans have yet to emerge. Overseas, it's taken legislation to get results. Across the Tasman, regulations are set to usher in a national television and computer recycling scheme. Recycling will be free for Aussie consumers, though they may have to pay a small fee when they buy a new product to cover the future cost of collection and recycling.