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Did you know the average Kiwi generates more than 20kg of electronic trash every year? This makes little old New Zealand one of the leading per capita producers of e-waste globally.

You’d think that, with these rates, and considering the environmental harm electronic waste poses, we’d have a solid system for managing our e-garbage, but New Zealand is the only OECD nation without a national e-waste scheme.

Local councils across the country advise that items like cell phones, TVs and laptops don’t belong in our kerbside bins. But because we don’t have a centralised system for processing our e-waste, figuring out how to actually get rid of old, unwanted and broken electronics can be a real challenge.

That’s why we’re sharing our top six methods for responsible e-waste disposal, from free e-waste recycling schemes near you and donating your e-junk to charitable recycling initiatives to booking a stress-free e-waste pick-up via Ezy Peazy.

Contents: How to Dispose of E-waste Responsibly

  • The Problem with Sending E-waste to Landfill
  • Method #1: Drop your E-Waste off at a Local Transfer Station or Community Recycling Centre
  • Method #2: Check Out Commercial E-waste Recycling Schemes
  • Method #3:Donate Your Unwanted Electronics to a Charitable Cause
  • Method #4: Enlist an E-waste Recycling Service for Businesses
  • Method #5: Sell your Old Electronics for Cash
  • Method #6: Book a Hassle-Free E-waste Collection with Ezy Peazy
  • E-waste Recycling in New Zealand: Key Takeaways
     

The Problem with Sending E-waste to Landfill

The evidence is clear: electronic garbage can have devastating effects on the environment. This is because electrical items and their batteries often contain toxic substances – substances like mercury, lead and lithium which can leach out when buried in landfill. This can then contaminate the surrounding soil, ground water and air.

All of this is bad news for human health, not to mention other life. Despite this, the majority of e-waste in New Zealand still ends up in landfill, when it could be recycled instead.

The good news is that, while we may not have a national system for e-waste management, there are lots of ways to get rid of your used, broken or unwanted electrical items responsibly. The first step is to familiarise yourself with what counts as e-waste.


What is Considered E-waste?

Generally, any device or appliance that plugs into a power outlet or uses batteries is considered e-waste - even your beloved air fryer and other small kitchen appliances. This makes for a pretty long list, including (but not limited to) the following: 

  • Mobile and landline phones
  • Televisions – including CRT, LCD, OLED and plasma TVs
  • Computers, including CPUs, monitors, hard drives, laptops and tablets
  • Printers and copiers
  • Routers and modems
  • Gaming consoles, including PlayStations and Xboxes
  • DVD and VHS players
  • Cameras
  • Garden and power tools, including drills, electric sanders and nail guns
  • Small appliances like toasters, microwaves, air fryers, vacuum cleaners and irons
  • Personal grooming appliances like electric shavers, hair dryers and hair straighteners
  • Stereos and portable speakers (like UE Booms)
  • Larger appliances like washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and fridges
  • Electric blankets
  • Air conditioning units, dehumidifiers and electric heaters
  • Lamps and light bulbs

Ready to declutter responsibly? Read on for our top e-garbage disposal methods!

Method #1: Drop your E-waste off at a Local Transfer Station or Community Recycling Centre

There are numerous council-affiliated community recycling centres and transfer stations in towns and cities across New Zealand that collect and recycle e-waste, ensuring harmful chemicals are kept out of landfill and your e-waste is recycled safely.

To get started, check out the list below for e-waste recycling centres in your area. Some of these locations offer free e-waste disposal – a bonus!

Note: It pays to check ahead of time what sort of e-waste your local community recycling centre or transfer station accepts. For instance, some take smaller items like computer monitors, but aren’t able to receive larger appliances like dishwashers.

Where Can I Find E-waste Recycling Centres Near Me?

E-Waste Recycling Centres in Whangārei

Re: Sort Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre

Address: 201 Kioreroa Road, Port Whangārei
Contact: 09 438 6288
Accepted e-waste items: fluorescent tubes, whiteware, printers, TVs, and screens. Phone to check regarding other e-waste items
Cost: Charges differ depending on the items/volume being dropped off.


E-Waste Recycling Centres in Auckland

Manurewa Community Recycling Centre

Address: 38 Holmes Road, Manurewa
Contact: 09 269 4080; zerowaste@beautification.org.nz
Accepted e-waste items: Accept small to medium e-waste and electronics. Phone or email to check regarding specific items
Cost: Some items will incur a fee to cover operating costs.

Onehunga Community Recycling Centre

Address: 37 Victoria Street, Onehunga
Contact: 09 600 2305; info@onehungacrc.nz
Accepted e-waste items: An extensive range of items, including keyboards, radios, stereos, TVs, microwaves, heaters, toasters, printers, computers, laptops and whiteware
Cost: Charges differ depending on the items/volume being dropped off.

Tāmaki Community Recycling Centre

Address: 153 Pilkington Road, Point England
Contact: 021 220 5712; reuse@tamakizerowaste.nz
Accepted e-waste items: Desktops, laptops, monitors, printers, TVs, and home appliances. Phone or email to check regarding other items
Cost: $1 per kg for e-waste.

Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre

Address: 990 Great North Road, Western Springs
Contact: 09 301 01 01; christine@mphs.org.nz
Accepted e-waste items: Accepts a range of items, including small and medium-sized appliances, TVs and monitors
Cost: Charges differ depending on the items/volume being dropped off.

Whāngaparaoa Community Recycling Centre

Address: 637 Whāngaparaoa Road, Stanmore Bay
Contact: 021 242 4689; hello@whangaparoacrc.nz
Accepted e-waste items: Accepts a range of items, including TVs, monitors, computers, home appliances, mobile phones, printers
Cost: Charges differ depending on the items/volume being dropped off.

Other locations: Anamata Community Recycling Centre (Aotea/Great Barrier Island), Waiheke Community Resource Recovery Park (Waiheke Island), Wairau Community Recycling Centre (no e-waste drop off, collection only), Wellsford Community Recycling Centre, Warkworth Community Recycling Centre.

E-Waste Recycling Centres in Hamilton

Hamilton Transfer Station

Address: 16 Wickham Street, Frankton
Contact: 0800 10 10 10
Accepted e-waste items: No specific items are listed online. Phone to check
Cost: Recycling items can be dropped off FREE of charge.

Lincoln Street Resource Recovery Centre

Address: 60 Lincoln Street, Frankton
Contact: 07 838 6699; info@hcc.govt.nz
Accepted e-waste items: Includes TVs, monitors, hard drives, DVD players, small appliances, whiteware
Cost: Items listed above can be dropped off FREE of charge. Phone or email to check regarding other items not included above.

E-Waste Recycling Centres in the Bay of Plenty

Te Maunga Transfer Station

Address: Truman Lane, Mount Maunganui
Contact: 07 575 2809
Accepted e-waste items: Includes TVs, routers, mobile phones, laptops, computers, printers, small home appliances, radios
Cost: Most items can be dropped off FREE of charge.  

E-Waste Recycling Centres in Wellington

Otaihanga Zero Waste

Address: 200 Otaihanga Road, Paraparaumu
Contact: 021 0909 6161; info@otaihangazerowaste.com
Accepted e-waste items: Accepts a wide range of items, including TVs, monitors, household appliances, mobile phones and DVD players
Cost: Some items can be dropped off FREE of charge. Fees may apply for some items, such as CRT TV screens and monitors.

Southern Landfill Tip Shop

Address: Landfill Road, Ōwhiro Bay
Contact: 04 499 4444
Accepted e-waste items: Accepts a wide range of items, including computers, laptops, tablets, power tools, mobile phones, household appliances, TVs and printers
Cost: Most items can be dropped off FREE of charge. Fees apply for some items, such as LCD and CRT TVs and monitors.

Te Aro Zero Waste

Address: 2 Forresters Lane, Wellington
Contact: 021 152 8417; info@tearozerowaste.org.nz
Accepted e-waste items: Accepts a wide range of items, including computers, mobile phones, TVs, home appliances, power tools and DVD players
Cost: Most e-waste items can be dropped off FREE of charge. Fees apply for some items. A detailed list is available on the Te Aro Zero Waste website.

E-Waste Recycling Centres in Christchurch

EcoDrop Resource Recovery Centres

Address: There are three locations -  Metro Place, Bromley; Parkhouse Road, Wigram; Styx Mill Road, Redwood
Contact: 03 941 7513
Accepted e-waste items: All three locations accept a range of items, including whiteware, dehumidifiers, small kitchen appliances, computers, laptops and cell phones. EcoDrop does not accept TVs or computer monitors that aren’t in working condition.
Cost: Most e-waste items can be dropped off FREE of charge. 

E-Waste Recycling Centres in Dunedin

Green Island Resource Recovery Park

Address: 9 Brighton Road, Green Island
Contact: 03 477 4000; dcc@dcc.govt.nz
Accepted e-waste items: accepts computer waste, TVs and mobile phones. Phone to check regarding other e-waste items
Cost: A small fee may apply to cover the costs of dismantling. This is subsidised by the Council.

 

Method #2: Check Out Commercial E-waste Recycling Schemes

In addition to council-affiliated community recycling centres and transfer stations, there’s also a number of commercial solutions you can call on for your electronics recycling needs. Some of these schemes focus on specific types of e-waste, such as mobile phone and computer waste recycling, while others take a wider range of old electrical items with many offering free recycling.


The below list is a great place to start your search.

Bunnings

Bunnings operates a free nationwide battery recycling service where people can drop off their household and power tool batteries. Simply bring your batteries into your nearest store and deposit them in the battery collection unit!
Location: All Bunnings branches nationwide
Accepted e-waste items: All batteries, except lead acid batteries, car batteries, products with embedded batteries or any batteries that are too large to fit in the collection unit slot
Cost: FREE.

Mitre 10

Mitre 10 has lightbulb and battery recycling programmes which it operates out of its stores. Simply bring your old light bulbs and batteries in and rest easy in the knowledge you’ve done a good deed for the planet.
Location: All Mitre 10 branches nationwide for lightbulbs, and certain branches for batteries
Accepted e-waste items: All household light bulbs (Mitre 10 will not accept broken light bulbs, however) and most batteries (including car batteries)
Cost: FREE.

Noel Leeming

Noel Leeming has partnered with TechCollect to offer electronic rubbish recycling services at 27 of its branches. Simply drop off your tech waste at any of the participating stores
Location: There are 27 participating Noel Leeming stores. Check their website to find your closest participating store
Accepted e-waste items: Accepts a range of ICT equipment, including laptops and associated cables, tablets, computer monitors and computer parts, mice, keyboards, modems, printers, scanners, cameras and video cameras
Cost: FREE.

Phoenix Recycling

Phoenix Recycling is a nationwide recycling service that specialises in processing a range of materials and items, including e-waste
Location: There are numerous Phoenix Recycling locations across the North and South Island. Visit their website to find your nearest branch
Accepted e-waste items: Phoenix Recycling accepts a huge range of e-waste, including computers, laptops, modems, electric heaters, small kitchen appliances, power tools, gaming consoles, TVs and mobile phones
Cost: Many items can be dropped off FREE of charge, however a small fee may apply for items such as televisions which typically require a more complex recycling process.

TechCollect

TechCollect has partnered with a range of organisations and businesses across the country to provide free recycling services for ICT equipment. This service is open to households and small business owners who want to discard old information technology equipment responsibly
Location: There are multiple drop-off points across the North and South Island. Visit the TechCollect website to see where your closest e-waste drop-off point is
Accepted e-waste items: Accepts a range of ICT equipment, including laptops and associated cables, tablets, computer monitors and computer parts, mice, keyboards, modems, printers, scanners, cameras and video cameras
Cost: FREE.

Other honourable mentions:  E-Cycle, Echo, EcoMatters (Auckland only), Upcycle (Auckland only), Junk Run (Auckland only), Service industries NZ (Hamilton and Waikato only)

 

Method #3: Donate your E-waste to a Charitable Cause

If you’re concerned about recycling your e-waste responsibly, we bet you’re someone who has a social conscience and wants to leave the world a better place. Why not double-down on your do-gooding and donate your e-waste to a charitable cause that’ll not only help you declutter ethically, but also help you make a bigger impact in the process? 

In New Zealand, there are some wonderful charitable and social enterprises that can help you do just that!

Abilities Group

Abilities Group aims to enrich the lives of disabled Kiwis by providing meaningful employment opportunities, all while protecting the environment. Abilities offers recycling services for a range of materials and items, facilitated by their incredible employees who help ensure items are broken down correctly and recycled safely.
Location: Glenfield, Auckland. Pick-ups can also be arranged
Accepted e-waste items: Anything with a battery or plug
Cost: Some items can be recycled FREE of charge, such as mobile phones. Other items incur a cost depending on the item and volume. These charges help Abilities cover the cost of its premises, staff salaries and other operating expenses.

Earthlink

Earthlink is an Upper Hutt-based not-for-profit that supports people facing mental health challenges, addiction or other barriers and are struggling to find meaningful employment. Their extensive range of recycling services, including e-waste recycling, provides valuable work experience to those they work with.
Location: Silverstream, Upper Hutt. Items can either be dropped off to the Earthlink Shop or left at the dedicated Earthlink section at the Silverstream landfill. Collections can also be arranged
Accepted e-waste items: Accepts a wide range of e-waste items, including TVs, computers, monitors, stereos, appliances and whiteware
Cost: There is a small fee for items such as TVs and computer monitors.  

Kilmarnock Enterprises

Another not-for-profit offering meaningful employment opportunities to Kiwis with disabilities. Kilmarnock Enterprises is based in Christchurch and accepts most e-waste items for recycling. Their team of recyclists dismantle donated electronics and salvage metals, electrical components and more for recycling.
Location: Wigram, Christchurch.
Accepted e-waste items: Accepts most e-waste items, excluding large home appliances like fridges and washing machines
Cost: There are fees that cover the cost and labour associated with electrical waste recycling.

RE: MOBILE

Whether you have an old iPhone that’s taking up space or an older cellphone, RE: MOBILE specialises in mobile phone recycling. For every phone recycled, funds are donated to Sustainable Coastlines, a charity that works to protect New Zealand’s waterways and coastlines.
Location:  RE: MOBILE has partnered with a number of businesses and organisations across New Zealand to offer more than 450 electronic waste drop-off locations in both the North and South Island. Old phones can also be posted or couriered for recycling
Accepted e-waste items: Mobile phones
Cost: FREE.

Other honourable mentions: CrEW (Whakatane), Cargill Enterprises (Dunedin), Recycling for Charity (Wellington)


Method #4: Enlist an E-waste Recycling Service for Businesses

A survey commissioned by Echo Technology Lifecycle Solutions in 2024 found that more than half of Kiwi businesses hadn’t recycled their e-waste in the past year, with many saying they either didn’t know how to go about it or didn’t have time to dispose of their waste responsibly.

Are you upgrading your IT system, downsizing your offices or have large amounts of accumulated e-waste to recycle and don’t know where to start? You’re not alone.

Luckily, there are a range of e-waste services that focus specifically on supporting businesses that need to process large volumes of electronic waste. Many of these services provide specific bins for you and your employees to place e-waste in and will collect these for recycling when full – making things simple and convenient and taking care of everything from end to end.

Here are a few options to get you started:

Echo Technology Lifecycle Solutions

Echo is New Zealand’s largest e-waste recycling company, providing individuals and businesses with an easy, sustainable way to repurpose or recycle old, unwanted electronics. Echo offers a range of different-sized bins and small mail-back boxes that can be used to collect e-waste available for hire across New Zealand.

E-Cycle

Similar to Echo Technology, E-Cycle provides crates and bins that can be placed onsite at your business. Collections, deliveries and drop-offs at E-Cycle’s national sites can also be arranged.  E-Cycle can offer various proposals to meet your business needs, including dropping off crates for filling and collection. Some items will be taken free of charge, while others may incur a cost to process. 

Reclaim

Reclaim offers different solutions for disposing of redundant e-waste, such as large 240L and 660L wheelie bins. For most businesses that generate enough volume, Reclaim will provide a bin exchange service. For larger volumes, custom services can be arranged.

Other honourable mentions: TechCollect, and Abilities Group (see further details earlier in this blog post).

 

Method #5: Sell your Old Electronics for Cash

Did you know you can get cash for electronic scrap? If you’re happy to do a little extra legwork to find a buyer, there’s likely someone out there who will be willing to purchase your old, unwanted gadgets  – particularly if they’re of the retro kind, such as an old CRT TV or record player. Not only will this help you recycle old electronics, keeping your e-waste out of landfill, but you’ll be making someone’s day too.

Trade Me and Facebook Marketplace are both ideal places to list your unwanted electronic items. Chances are there will be someone scouring the web looking for an item just like yours.

Is your item broken or damaged? That might not be the deal-breaker you think it is. There are Kiwis out there who love to fix and refurbish electronics as a hobby or convert them into e-scrap. 

Finally, there are also specialist e-waste buyers like NZ Electronics Repair, based in Auckland, who can assess your broken electronics and may offer you cash in return for them.

 

Method #6: Book a Hassle-Free E-waste Collection with Ezy Peazy

Love the idea of recycling or disposing of your e-waste responsibly, but don’t love the idea of driving across town to drop it off? No worries! Ezy Peazy has you covered!

Thanks to our extensive network of reliable, trustworthy taskers, booking an e-waste collection is just a few clicks away.

Whether you have a few items that you’d like to donate to a charitable or social cause, or a larger amount that needs to be transported to a community recycling centre in a van or trailer – no collection job is too difficult. There’s no need to worry about the volume or size of your e-waste items either. From recycling whiteware to mobile phones, whatever the job, there’ll be a tasker to suit.

All you need to do is create a job using our simple-to-use platform, including your location, preferred timeframe and what you’re willing to pay, plus the details of what needs recycling and how you would like it to be recycled. Then, wait for offers from reputable taskers to roll in and select the offer of your choice. Your tasker will ensure your electronic waste is taken away quickly and efficiently, and recycled ethically as per your wishes, leaving you to sit back and relax in a decluttered space and with the knowledge you’ve been kind to the environment.

Key Takeaways 

When it comes to e-waste recycling, we Kiwis are lagging behind our OECD counterparts. That’s thanks, in part, to our lack of a centralised e-waste management scheme, which makes tech recycling difficult to navigate.

It’s not all bad, however. In 2023 Ministry for the Environment research found that more Kiwis than ever are willing to drop their e-waste off at a separate purpose-built location. And numerous e-waste recycling schemes have sprung up around the country, seeing the need to stem our growing tide of e-garbage.

If you’re keen to do your bit for the environment and dispose of your e-waste responsibly, there are lots of options available. From handing your e-junk off to a community recycling centre or charitable cause to selling your grandma’s retro CRT TV on Trade Me for cash, there’s an environmentally friendly solution for almost everyone and every type of item.

Trying to figure out the ins and outs of home appliance recycling, where to take an old cellphone or not sure whether you can put a broken hair straightener in your kerbside trash? 

When you post your e-waste removal job on Ezy Peazy, you can say goodbye to the guesswork and let us take care of the rest. And with our network of taskers on hand to pick-up your e-junk and drop it to wherever it needs to go, you can make it all happen from the comfort of your own home.  


PS Need help with more than just e-waste removal? At Ezy Peazy we can help with that too. From couches, mattresses and bed frames to broken concrete and garden waste – we offer a wide range of affordable removal services across New Zealand.
 

About Ezy Peazy

Ezy Peazy is an innovative platform that connects Kiwis with skilled taskers to help get things done. From household repairs and cleaning to creative projects and deliveries, Ezy Peazy makes it simple and straightforward to find trusted help for a wide range of jobs. Founded in 2019, our mission is to empower people to realise the value of their skills and connect them with others who need a helping hand. With transparent reviews, competitive pricing, and a user-friendly experience, Ezy Peazy is transforming the way tasks are completed—quickly, affordably, and reliably.