Press Release from Sustainability Victoria and Environment New South Wales
Residents in regional Victoria and New South Wales border areas will be able to drop off their old televisions for recycling from this Thursday, under a month-long, free initiative jointly funded by the Australian, Victorian and New South Wales governments.
With the switchover to digital TV in regional Victoria and in NSW border areas, the Australian, Victorian and NSW governments have worked together to establish collection arrangements for unwanted and broken televisions. Collection points will be set up in Sale, Shepparton, Swan Hill, Bendigo, Ballarat, Hamilton, Horsham, Nhill, Mildura, Colac, Wodonga, Culcairn and Deniliquin from 30 June to 31 July.
Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability, Senator Don Farrell, welcomed the arrangements, saying this was a positive outcome for the environment.
“This will ensure that we reclaim valuable, re-usable materials in televisions such as tin, nickel, zinc aluminum and copper, while at the same time reducing the amount of waste going to landfill and preventing harmful materials from entering the environment,” Senator Farrell said.
“This important take-back initiative follows the successful scheme rolled out in regional South Australia and Broken Hill after the December 2010 digital switchover in those areas, which saw nearly 20,000 old TVs diverted from landfill.”
The Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, also welcomed the start of the take-back arrangements.
“Most analog televisions will be able to receive the full suite of free-to-air digital TV channels by adding a digital set-top box, so people don't necessarily need to replace their televisions for the switchover. We are conscious, however, that people may take this opportunity to upgrade their technology,” Senator Conroy said.
“We are pleased, therefore, to be able to provide this practical help to householders, as one of many initiatives in place to help communities prepare for the switchover.”
Free disposal services will be based at council resource recovery centres and waste transfer stations in Bendigo, Ballarat, Colac, Hamilton, Horsham, Nhill, Mildura, Swan Hill, Wodonga, Sale, Shepparton in Victoria and Deniliquin and Culcairn in NSW.
“By working together, the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments will help to prevent TVs from being dumped illegally, a cost that would otherwise have been borne by councils and ultimately regional and rural rate payers," the Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith said.
“I encourage all residents in regional Victoria to be responsible and take their unwanted analog TVs to a designated collection point which will prevent any subsequent damage to our environment,” Mr Smith said.
NSW Minister for the Environment Robyn Parker said that from June 30 until July 31, residents in the NSW areas affected by the early switchover will be able to drop off their obsolete televisions for recycling at collection sites in Deniliquin and Culcairn in NSW and Wodonga and Swan Hill in Victoria.
“We’re making sure that people in NSW who choose to upgrade their televisions have the option for recycling their old TV in a safe and environmentally responsible way,” Ms Parker said.