Electronic waste is fast becoming a problem for Australia says Clean Up Australia chairman Ian Kiernan, with a report conducted by Total Environment Centre and Environment Australia indicating that e-waste is currently growing at three times the level of general waste, with over 200 million electronic waste items expected to be dumped into landfill by 2010.
“E-waste is the country’s fastest growing waste problem… two million computers were sold in Australia in the last year and at the moment only 5 percent are being recycled.”
Kiernan has backed calls for a national recycling scheme believing that the lack of national action for electronic waste has led to unnecessary environmental damage.
“A national action plan…. is overdue. Reducing the amount of electronic waste going to landfill through better environmental management at all stages of electronic equipment is urgently needed.”
Clean Up Australia has called on businesses to take urgent action to correct this problem with a national Business Clean Up Day scheduled for Tuesday 24 February 2009.
Businesses can register a Clean Up site in their local area or become a Clean Up Australia Day Business Supporter.
Registrations can be made at www.cleanup.org.au
