FAQ About E-Waste - PF Metals Resource Recovery

E-waste contains both hazardous and valuable materials that can be recovered when they reach the end of their working life.

The amount of e-waste (electronic waste) we create is growing up to three times faster than general municipal waste in Australia. It covers a range of items we all use in our daily working and home lives, including televisions, computers, mobilephones, kitchen appliances and whitegoods.

These items contain both hazardous and valuable materials that can be recovered when they reach the end of their working life.

Acknowledging the risks and opportunities associated with e-waste, the Victorian Government is banning e-waste from Victoria’s landfill from 1July 2019.

Source:Vic State Govt. Website

E-waste –or electronic waste – refers to electronic products that are no longer wanted or working, including:

• CD players
• computers
• mobile phones
• monitors
• printers
• televisions
• VCRs

E-waste contains hazardous materials, which can harm the environment and human health.

E-waste is growing three times faster than general municipal waste in Australia, due to increased technology trends, reduced product lifespan and consumer demand for new products.

Valuable materials contained in e-waste are lost when appliances, computers and other household electrical goods are sent to landfill.

Recycle your e-waste to: 

• reduce landfill 
• protect the air and waterways from harmful materials
• minimise consumption of raw materials to produce electronic products
• reduce greenhouse gases created in the production of new materials.

As technology advances, so too does our hunger to upgrade. New phones, computers, televisions and all manner of gadgets and gizmos are released every year.

E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in Australia,growing three times faster than general municipal waste, according to the 2017 Managing e-waste in Victoria Policy Impact Assessment. It’s estimated that television and computer waste alone will grow by more than 60percent–85,000 tonnes– over the decade to 2024.

Source: Waste Management Review Magazine

• More than 1.5mil TVs are discarded In Australia every year

• Up to 90% of your Phone, TV and computer can be recycled

• The total value of raw materials in global e-waste in 2016 was A$80 billion

Source: Sustainability Victoria Website