Island residents support e-waste clean-up

Redland City Council has thanked its island residents for their support of an electronic waste drive which collected almost two tonnes of items over 16 days.

The Council initiative allowed residents to drop outdated technology waste into special bins at island-based Recycling and Waste Centres.

Mayor Karen Williams said it was not surprising that roughly half the e-waste was collected on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), our largest island community.

“Russell, Macleay and Coochiemudlo islands folk also put in a great effort, filling nearly five containers across the three islands.

“Residents were also able to collect a free tree when they dropped off an item for collection on 13 and 14 February,” Cr Williams said.

“During the ‘trees for e-waste’ weekend, Council gave away more than 60 free trees, which is an outstanding effort and good news for our island environments.”

Cr Williams said Australians generated about 73kg of e-waste per household each year with estimations that about 80% of that ended up in landfill.

“E-waste contains glass, copper, plastics and precious metals, which are able to be processed and eventually used in the manufacture of new products,” Cr Williams said.

“Stopping this waste from going into landfill supports Council’s commitment to a circular economy and the State Government’s goal of a zero-waste-to-landfill future.”

Cr Williams said this was Council’s second annual e-waste collection for our island residents.

“While this latest collection has now finished, Council encourages all island residents to hold onto their e-waste until the next local drive, or to take it to one of the mainland Recycling and Waste Centres wherever possible,” Cr Williams said.

“Mainland recycling and waste centres offer a full-time e-collection service where e-waste is recycled.”

In the 2019/2020 financial year, Council recycled 257 tonnes of e-waste.