Council boosts e-waste recycling with more device types now accepted

The e-waste recycling initiative Buller District Council runs in partnership with Smart Environmental Ltd and TechCollect NZ is expanding - from 1 May 2026, Buller residents can recycle a wider range of devices, including mobile phones and DVD players.

The programme partnership has been in place here since July 2021, providing the Buller community with a sustainable solution for managing unwanted electronics and information and communications technology (ICT) e-waste. The current agreement has been extended until 31 March 2027.

To date, a combined total of 5,280 kilograms of accepted e-waste items have been recovered from the Westport and Reefton Transfer Stations for environmentally sound recycling.

Group Manager Infrastructure Services, Anthony Blom, says: “Council's e-waste recycling scheme has been well-received by the community, and the amount of equipment recycled to date demonstrates that people in Buller are continuing to make good use of this opportunity.”

Buller residents and small businesses can drop off accepted e-waste items at the Westport or Reefton Transfer Stations as part of this free service, which is funded by council through Waste Levy funds.

TechCollect NZ is a not-for-profit organisation helping the technology sector manage the life cycle of its products. It works with best-in-class recyclers in the New Zealand market to recover and recirculate as many of the valuable, finite resources contained in electronic devices as possible.

TechCollect NZ’s Acting Head of Operations, Daniel Tulloch says: “TechCollect NZ values its long-standing partnership with Buller District Council and Smart Environmental, which has provided Buller residents with free, convenient access to responsible e-waste recycling since 2021."

All e-waste items recovered by the programme are processed by TechCollect NZ’s local recycling partners, who meet stringent health, safety, and environmental standards.

Items such as laptops, desktop computers, keyboards, printers, and cameras are among the other e-waste items accepted for recycling. Televisions and other non-ICT electronics are not accepted.

This e-waste recycling programme is one of the many no-cost alternative recycling initiatives available to Buller residents, which helps decrease the amount of items otherwise not accepted as recycling going to landfill.

-ENDS-

For further information please contact:
Community Engagement Team
Buller District Council
Media.Enquiries@bdc.govt.nz 

Disclaimer
The information in this media release was correct at time of publication. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information.