Your Fridays may be black and your Monday's under a cybersales attack, but if you've gone purchase crazy and taken advantage of cheap prices on replacement electronic devices, it's everyone's environmental duty to properly (and safely) dispose of the old gear.
EPA Victoria says electronic waste (e-waste) is defined as 'waste in the form of electrical or electronic equipment, devices or things the operation of which is dependent on, or designed for the generation, transfer or measurement of, an electric current or electromagnetic field.'
If it's got a battery, plug or power cord and it's no longer working or wanted, like televisions, computers, mobile phones, kitchen appliances, whitegoods, batteries (including rechargeable batteries) and photovoltaic panels and you've upgraded, don't be tempted to toss the old equipment in the bin with the rest of the general waste or household recycling.
E-waste is banned from landfill in Victoria because of the risks and opportunities associated with its rapid rate of growth. Not only is much of it recyclable, but lithium batteries in particular, are fire hazards if not treated appropriately.
Separate your e-waste from the storing, processing and disposal of other waste. Both e-waste and processed e-waste materials must be handled and stored with due care to avoid leakage and the release of hazardous substances into air, water or soil.
"A lot of us will have taken advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales to upgrade our electronic devices, but we all have a duty to dispose of e-waste appropriately," said EPA CEO Lee Miezis.
"The General Environmental duty requires you to assess and manage your risk. The risk of fire or contamination increases when e-waste is not appropriately managed."
