E-waste recycling group TechCollect attempted, and succeeded, in setting a Guinness World Record for the most e-waste collected in one week in late April, gathering more than 474 tonnes across Australia.
Locally, people brought more than 14 tonnes of e-waste to the Mindarie Regional Council’s facility on Marmion Avenue, according to sustainability and waste education officer Geoff Atkinson.
‘The record attempt occurred around the time of the switching off of the analogue TV signal here in Perth, so many people were updating and disposing of old TVs at the time,’ Mr Atkinson said.
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READ NOW‘During that time Tamala Park was filling up its collection bins faster than the contractor could get them to us with over 14 tonnes (over 700 TV’s) being taken.’
TechCollect chief executive Carmel Dollisson said the amount collected nationally was the equivalent of four blue whales in weight.
‘We saw Australians clean out their homes, de-clutter their lives and ensure that all of that old, unwanted and unused e-waste didn’t end up in landfill ” which is a great outcome for the environment,’ she said.
According to TechCollect, only 10 to 17 per cent of e-waste was being recycled up until last year, but that increased to 30 per cent this year and they hoped to reach 80 per cent in the next decade.
Residents can drop off old televisions, computers and other e-waste at no cost at the Tamala Park recycling centre from Fridays to Mondays. For information on recyclable and reusable items, visit www.mrc.wa.gov.au.