In a recent announcement from the Western Australian state government 2021-22 budget and Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. They have committed to a ban on e-waste disposal to landfill by 2024 with the intention to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The aim is to invest $14 million to support a ban on e-waste to landfill by working with all sectors of the economy, including waste removal businesses like Perth E-Waste to achieve the goal.
Further to this information the WA department mentions;
Banning of e-waste from disposal to landfill supports a vision for a low-carbon Western Australia with a healthy environment and secure water resources for future generations. The ban also supports the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030 vision for the state to become a sustainable, low-waste, circular economy in which human health and the environment are protected from the impacts of waste.
Consultation is now open. With the state government inviting industry and the community groups to provide feedback on implementation approaches for the ban on e-waste disposal to landfill in Western Australia. All submissions must be received by email to e-waste@dwer.wa.gov.au by 5pm on 31st March 2023. Please note that written submissions will be published.
For further information on this banning please refer to the E-waste to landfill ban in Western Australia: Consultation Paper (January 2023) as well as the Cost benefit analysis of options for an e-waste landfill ban in Western Australia (Synergies Economic Consulting). After the consultation, submissions will be analysed and used to inform the design and implementation of the ban.
Perth E-Waste already works hard to ensure nothing goes to landfill by using four main methods to address it. Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle all e-waste.
Reduce
With constant upgrades and new models (of electronics) coming to market daily. We recommend holding onto your older phones, tablets and laptops a little longer.
If your item is still functioning fine, why change it? Most products are now advanced enough that the only change (to the new model) is an extra camera lens, or 1.0 mega pixel increase.
Embrace keeping your existing equipment thus leading to reducing your environmental footprint and saving money while doing so. It’s a win, win situation.
Reuse
Another problem of e-waste comes from a lack of reusing items. Yes, if you have upgraded, don’t throw out your old electronics, instead reuse it. Gift it to a friend or family member if they mention needing a new device. Or sell it for a little extra cash. Finally, if you have no other options, donate it to the local charity, who could give it to people that need electronics, or sell it to someone who’s looking for it.
Either way, no matter which approach, reuse, don’t dispose.
Repair
Repairing is a great concept and something that can be done with access to YouTube tutorials and websites focussed on it. If your item has passed it’s warranty period and not working correctly why not have a go yourself?. Australians should familiarise themselves with simple repairs that they can do.
Otherwise utilise a local service centre that can do it for you. Most shopping centres have screen repair booths. They might also fix laptops, even replace cracked screens for you. You’re also stimulating the local economy. Repairing is certainly an option that you should never discard.
Recycle
Our favorite option. Statistics show that not enough Australians recycle their electronics and instead of recycling, many choose to dump it in the local landfill.
With the coming banning, recycling is the way to go forward. We hope that Australians do it more. If you agree, and wish to recycle your electronics, there are several ways you can go about it. One popular option is to go with a local e-waste company. Like us, we can help.
Sometimes you can even drop off specific electronics, such as televisions, laptops, domestic printers and cables. There is a small processing fee, but the items will be recycled correctly.
Overall, your best choice for recycling your electronics is likely to be going with a specialised e-waste company. Perth E-Waste might suit you.
Where do you go from here?
Working with the state government, Perth E-Waste is encouraged by their initiative and also encourage you to do your part too. Reduce, reuse, repair or recycle rather than sending to landfill. Treat recycling with the care that the environment deserves.
If you have any questions about e-waste, feel free to contact us at 1300 E-SCRAP or by our form.