By Danielle Kutchel
Residents are being asked to think twice before throwing that old mobile phone in the bin, ahead of the state government’s ban on e-waste entering landfill.
The ban, which comes into effect on July 1, means that any item with a plug, battery or cord will no longer be able to be put in kerbside bins, and must instead be dropped at a designated e-waste drop off point.
Drop-off points are dotted around the state.
The City of Casey’s manager, waste and landfill management, said the council supports the initiative to minimise the amount of e-waste going to landfill and reminded residents to remove batteries from e-waste before disposing of it.
The manager said there were a number of drop-off locations available, including Outlook in Hampton Park, Future Recycling Transfer Station in Pakenham or Frankston Recycling and Recovery Centre.
The council collects batteries, mobile phones, DVD’s, tapes, videos and CDs at its customer service centres in Cranbourne and at Bunjil Place.
A full list of how to dispose of waste in the City of Casey is available at casey.vic.gov.au/what-we-can-cant-collect.
Officeworks stores are also able to collect mobile phones, ink cartridges and IT waste items.
E-waste includes old mobile phones, computers, audio devices, refrigerators and other white goods, hair dryers, TVs, heaters and air-conditioners.
The amount of e-waste is growing three times faster than the rate of standard municipal waste and contains potentially hazardous and valuable materials.
The ban will ensure valuable materials left inside e-waste can be safely recovered and reused, while reducing the damage electronic items can have on the environment and human health.
