Fee changes for recycling TVs and computer monitors

Gate fees for recycling televisions and other CRT monitors at the district’s resource recovery facilities will increase next month.

The gate fees for recycling these items at the Otaihanga and Ōtaki facilities will go up from $10 to $20 per unit from 1 June 2015. 

The cost of recycling CRT monitors used to be around $25 per item with Council subsidising this cost by $10 per unit and the difference covered by the operator.

For television and CRT recycling to remain viable in New Zealand, recyclers have had to raise their rates to $35-$40 per unit to cover the actual cost of recycling them.

To assist with long-term positive behaviour change, Council will increase its subsidy for recycling these items to $15 per unit. As previously, the cost is subsidised with Waste Levy money that Council receives from the Ministry for the Environment to support waste minimisation initiatives.  There is no rates impact.

Since December 2011, more than 6,000 units have been recycled at the Otaihanga and Ōtaki resource recovery facilities.

The Ministry for the Environment has made some progress towards establishing a ‘product stewardship’ scheme for electronic waste. A successful scheme would likely see the end-of-life recycling costs built into the purchase price of a product.

A consultation process is currently underway and recommendations should be presented to the Ministry this month. It is probable that a lengthy period of consideration, planning and lead in time will follow - a solution is not expected before 2016/17.