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Exciting new recycling initiative in partnership with community

An e-waste recycling facility is now open for business in Hauraki Rd, Coromandel, following a partnering arrangement between our solid waste contractors and the community-based organisation Coromandel Independent Living Trust (CILT).

CILT established the electronic waste recycling facility on a year’s trial basis under a sub-contractual partnering arrangement with Smart Environmental Ltd.

It’s the first step in working toward the goal of establishing a comprehensive Resource Recovery Centre (RRC) at the Coromandel Refuse Transfer Station.

CILT's proposal for the RCN e-Cycle depot at Coromandel Town Transfer Station includes regular collections from the Whitianga Refuse Transfer Station and other centres across the Upper Coromandel Peninsula. A covered trailer has been purchased for this purpose.

“This three-way partnering agreement is an exciting new initiative for co-operation between Council, the solid waste contractor and a local community group,” says CILT’s Mike Noonan. “It offers a blueprint for what can be achieved across the Waikato region and nationally.”

CILT has become a member of the Community Recycling Network of New Zealand (CRN) that is also supported by TCDC. It became the 29th organisation in NZ to sign up to the RCN Site Drop Off Agreement. Under the terms of this agreement CILT is provided with a support package of up to $5,000 funded by the Ministry of the Environment

Smart Environmental Ltd has supplied a container for the site and associated electrical fitout costs and is accommodating CILT with the cash collection and record keeping through their financial systems.

TCDC and the Waikato Regional Council also gave financial assistance towards signage.

Mr Noonan says The Seagull Centre from Thames was “extremely helpful” in the development of the e-Cycle centre in Coromandel and CILT is also grateful to other community groups such as Xtreme Waste from Raglan and Cbec from Kaitaia which generously shared their knowledge and experience.

The container is now on site and two people who have a disability have been trained to dismantle the electronic equipment in a healthy and safe manner. The dismantled components will be recycled nationally and overseas and reused as raw materials to manufacture new products.

Anyone wishing to recycle their electronic waste should go to the kiosk at the transfer station entrance and tell staff they have e-waste to drop off. Charges will apply.

For more information regarding the e-waste challenge see: www.e-cycle.co.nz

CILT would also like to acknowledge Guy Macindoe from Sustainz Ltd who had done a fantastic job getting the project to this stage.

Whitianga e-waste collection monthly from Refuse Transfer Station

E-waste will be collected from Whitianga Refuse Transfer Station on the first Saturday of every month between 10am and 12 noon. Charges apply.

About CILT

Starting in 1994 with a focus on disability issues, the Coromandel Independent Living Trust (or CILT) has become a broad-based community services provider for the Upper Coromandel.

At TCDC we partner with community organisations to achieve our objectives of Waste Minimisation, Community Education and Awareness, Employment and Environmental Benefits and CILT is among the organisations we support.