Free e-waste drop off facilities at Redland City Council’s Birkdale and Redland Bay transfer stations are proving extremely popular, collecting between eight and nine tonnes of e-waste per week.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said a facility had been operating at the Redland Bay transfer station since June, with a second facility opening at the Birkdale transfer station recently.
“Our e-waste drop off facilities received 11 tonnes in the last seven days alone, which is a fantastic response from Council and residents,” she said.
“Together these facilities have prevented approximately 70 tonnes of e-waste being sent to landfill so far, saving Council and residents money.”
Cr Williams said the e-waste facilities had been set up after free-to-air TV signals had been switched off in May.
“While we are predominantly seeing analogue TVs at these facilities, residents can also use them to dispose of computers and computer accessories,” she said.
“All other reusable electronic materials that are in working order can be donated to RecycleWorld (Council’s “tip shop”) or if they are not working and are 50 per cent metal or metal components, they can be placed in to the scrap metal bins where they will be stripped and recycled.
“The e-waste facilities are part of Council’s objective of recycling or reusing as much material as possible, supporting Redland City’s environmental character.”
Acceptable items that can be dropped off at the facilities include televisions, computer monitors, hard drives, keyboards, computer mice, scanners, printers, modems, fax machines, digital cameras and photocopiers.
“All items collected are taken to a facility where they are pulled apart and the various components of glass, plastic, wire and metal are sent for recycling; in fact almost 95% of the materials are recovered for further use,” Cr Williams said.
“Council transfer stations also have cardboard and polystyrene recycling points so residents can recycle packaging from new TVs and computers.”
Redland City transfer stations:
Birkdale
537 – 609 Old Cleveland Rd East
Summer: 1 Sept – 31 May, 7.00am – 5.30pm (arrive by 5.15pm)
Winter: 1 June – 31 Aug, 7.00am – 5.00pm (arrive by 4.45pm)
7 days a week excluding Christmas Day and Good Friday
Redland Bay
761 – 789 German Church Rd
Summer: 1 Sept – 31 May, 7.00am – 5.30pm (arrive by 5.15pm)
Winter: 1 June – 31 Aug, 7.00am – 5.00pm (arrive by 4.45pm)
7 days a week excluding Christmas Day and Good Friday