E-waste to create envirnment hassles as analogue signal disappears

E waste are creating a serious problem on the streets of Australia. They are an increasingly common sight on the streets across St George and Sutherland Shire.Televisions, many of them relatively new, left outside homes ahead of council-run clean-up services or simply abandoned when they stop working or their owner buys a new one.

And with the analogue transmission signal for TVs due to be switched off next month, the problem is set to worsen.

1800ewaste, a business that collects unwanted electronic goods for recycling, predicts there are enough electronic items in Australian homes to fill 1.3 million semi-trailers, which lined up would stretch from Sydney to London.

The federal government says the high rate of products going to landfill poses a number of problems, including loss of non-renewable resources and risks to human health and the environment from hazardous substances, such as lead, cadmium and mercury, contained in the products.

Glass, plastics, iron, steel, aluminium, copper and precious metals such as gold, platinum and silver can be recovered from unwanted TVs and computers.

The government will this year start rolling out a National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme, but it is not yet known how soon it will be available in this region.

Until then, those throwing out their old TVs are encouraged to dispose of them thoughtfully.

Planet Ark suggests contacting a recycling business and lists three in this area; Pioneer Waste Management Australia, at Taren Point, Ness n Gaz Scrappin It, at Peakhurt, and NSW Facility Services at Kogarah.