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The term e-waste refers to electronic equipment that is near or has reached the end of its life cycle.

Often times, these items can be reused, refurbished, re-sold or recycled.

Some of the most common e-waste items are computers, computer components, laptops, televisions, cell phones, printers, and fax machines.

Used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal are also considered e-waste.

Electronic scrap components, such as CPUs also contain potentially harmful components such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, or brominated flame retardants.

E-waste divides into two streams:

• What can be reused
• What can be recycled

Items are then sorted and distributed accordingly.

Computer Recycling Ltd uses a technical approach, dividing out as much equipment as possible, for reuse. These items are then tested and or, refurbished then marketed by our parent company.

For equipment that can’t be reused, these items are prepared, and or, dismantled and packaged for recycling.

Recycling of e-waste also has two main streams.

• What can be done in New Zealand
• What can't be done in New Zealand

Computers and other e-waste are a complex mix of common metals, precious metals and plastics.

Ultimately, the precious metals have the most value, but the equipment and the process to effectively separate all these into their unique forms is a large very expensive machine.

Many companies have tried to do this with different approaches in New Zealand, as we do, but we’re always hamstrung by the lack of volume needed to cover the large setup and processing costs. These processing giants need hundreds of tons of equipment each day to be cost-effective.

New Zealand just doesn’t have the volumes to make the full dismantling and metal recovery of most e-waste material viable.

Throwing computers and other electronic e-waste in the trash overflows landfills and may cause environmental and health damage to humans.

Components and materials used to create computers and other electronics are toxic when leaked into the soil, atmosphere and water system via improper disposal.

Utilising Computer Recycling’s E-Waste recycling services will benefit the environment as well as protect you and your business against leaks of secure information.