Vic govt takes steps to remove e-waste from landfill

A new facility has been supported by the Victorian Government which will help to remove e-waste from landfill.

The facility at Officer is expected to divert 5000 tonnes of e-waste from landfill, processing 1000 tonnes in the first year.

E-waste includes everything from old mobile phones, computers and related equipment, audio devices, refrigerators and other whitegoods, hair dryers, TVs, heaters and air conditioners.

The state government has invested $500,000 in Social Enterprise Outlook Environmental to build a new 1000 m² shed on land bought from Places Victoria.

“The work of Outlook Environmental, and organisations like it, is an essential part of Victoria’s sustainable future,” said Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio.

“We know how damaging e-waste can be in the sustainability of the environment — that’s why we’re working with companies like Outlook to maximise recycling and reduce the amount of material that goes to landfill.”

The new facility will receive discarded electronics, which are stripped of components for reprocessing into new technology or sold on the second-hand goods market.

Moving Outlook’s e-waste operations to Officer from Pakenham expands its operation from existing facilities at Mornington, Darebin and Hampton Park.

In 2014 around 109,000 tonnes of e-waste entered Victoria’s waste and recovery system, with projections it will be more than 250,000 tonnes by 2035.

The new facility provides continued employment to 13 existing Outlook employees and has the capacity to provide 13 new jobs and ongoing employment support services for people with disabilities, or those who may otherwise find it hard to get work.

The government will ban e-waste from landfill and has invested $16.5 million in measures to ensure the ban is effective.

Submissions on the e-waste ban, which will start in July 2018, can be made via engage.vic.gov.au/waste/e-waste.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Andrey Popov

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook