Murrindindi Shire Council is thrilled to be able to announce a successful grant application for $300,000 from Sustainability Victoria to help us manage e-waste responsibly.
The grant was approved in October and will be used to build infrastructure in preparation for the state-wide ban on e-waste entering landfill, which comes into effect on 1 July 2019.
E-waste can be described as anything with a plug or battery that has reached the end of its useful life. It includes everything from old mobile phones, computers and related equipment, audio devices, refrigerators and other white goods, hair driers, TVs, heaters, and air-conditioners. The amount of e-waste generated in Victoria is projected to increase from 109,000 tonnes in 2015 to approximately 256,000 tonnes in 2035.
Councillor Rebecca Bowles said that currently Council has basic facilities for e-waste collection and this funding will help us upgrade our infrastructure and make sure that all our e-waste can go to a place where it can be properly recycled.
“E-waste contains valuable resources that we can reuse as well as some nasty materials that are bad for the environment if not properly handled. Separating and recycling e-waste is something we all need to do to reduce the hazardous materials in our landfill and recover valuable materials.
“Three of the Resource Recovery Centres in Murrindindi Shire – Alexandra, Kinglake and Yea – will be equipped with an enclosed e-waste disposal facility that complies with all environmental regulations.” Bowles said.
These works are part of a state-wide effort to improve Victoria’s e-waste collection network, with the Victorian Government providing funding for the upgrade of close to 130 e-waste collection and storage sites across 76 councils.
Murrindindi Shire Council is proud to be working with Sustainability Victoria and the Goulburn Valley Waste and Resource Recovery Group to improve the collection of e-waste, one of the fastest growing waste streams in Australia.
For more information about Murrindindi Shire Council’s waste options for residents, see www.murrindindi.vic.gov.au
