The government is pleased with the response to its environmental programme involving The Warehouse branches in New Zealand, including the Fraser Cover outlet.

The Great TV Take Back campaign announced in September has since netted 28,000 unwanted television sets for recycling.

Environment Minister Nick Smith talks with Tauranga Environment Centre trustees during a visit to the city in August.

Environment Minister Nick Smith says he's thrilled so many New Zealanders have chosen to recycle their old unwanted TVs.

'In doing so, we have stopped 450 tonnes of harmful material going to landfills, including 70 tonnes of lead, more than 230 tonnes of glass and 10 tonnes of copper.”

The Great TV Take Back is run by The Warehouse and supported by the government's Waste Minimisation Fund and invites people to drop off old TVs in store for free recycling.

Nick says the TVs collected will be recycled by companies with sound recycling credentials and monitored by the Ministry for the Environment.

'The Great TV Take Back is a pilot campaign and is part of a wider government programme to provide recycling solutions for electronic waste,” says Nick.
'This includes the government-sponsored eCycle network; a nationwide network of e-waste collection and dismantling depots.

'The government has also made a request for proposals to other electrical retailers to join the programme and provide opportunities for recycling electronic waste, particularly TVs.”

Nick says he hopes The Warehouse partnership is just one of many from the electronic sector as the TV waste problem is huge and will require many such initiatives.

'The government intends to progress a similar product stewardship approach to Australia to address e-waste issues in New Zealand.
'The intention is that work will be undertaken over the next three years.”

Expressions of Interest for the wider TV Take Back programme are now being received and will close on October 21.

For further information visit www.gets.govt.nz