E-Waste Recycling with Social Impact
Recycling your electronics can create jobs for people with disabilities
Electronic waste or e-waste refers to electronic devices and equipment that are no longer working or fit for purpose. The average Kiwi creates 19kg of e-waste per year, with most of this ending up in landfills. When electronic devices are dumped, they can leech toxic chemicals and pose a threat to the environment. If electronics are disposed of responsibly, many of the internal components can be salvaged and recycled.
When you bring your electronics to Kilmarnock Enterprises for recycling, you’re helping our environment and creating meaningful jobs for people with intellectual disabilities. Our diverse and talented team of recyclists carefully dismantle your electronics and salvage metals, electronic components and more for recycling.
Kilmarnock Enterprises is a charity, and we don’t receive funding for recycling operation. As a result, we charge a per-item recycling fee to help cover our costs.
Visit the Kilmarnock Enterprises campus at 21 Lodestar Avenue in Wigram, Christchurch, between 9.00 am and 4.00 pm Monday-Friday.
Drive down the long driveway to the right of the building, following the signs for ‘E-Waste’. Please do not walk down the driveway.
Park at the red stop line in the driveway, and one of our awesome team members will help you drop off your items and complete the payment. We accept both cash and eftpos/credit card payments.
What is e-waste?
E-Waste refers to electronic devices and equipment that are no longer working or fit for purpose. The average kiwi creates 19kg of e-waste per year, with most of this ending up in landfills.
What do you recycle?
We accept most household electronics for recycling, including computers, televisions, printers, mobile phones, network equipment and small household appliances.
We do not accept large household appliances such as fridges or washing machines.
Why do you charge for e-waste?
Our fees help cover costs, including the labour needed to dismantle e-waste for recycling. Kilmarnock Enterprises is a charity that doesn’t receive funding for e-waste recycling. Therefore, we need to pass these costs on.
What happens to my e-waste?
Many of the components in your old electronic devices can be removed and responsibly recycled. Our team carefully disassemble your devices and separate out the individual components for recycling. When you drop off your e-waste for recycling with us, you’re not only looking out for the planet, but you’re also creating jobs for people with intellectual disabilities
Why Kilmarnock?
Kilmarnock Enterprises is a charity that creates employment and development opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. When you bring your e-waste to Kilmarnock for recycling, you’re creating a meaningful job for a Kiwi with an intellectual disability.
Can businesses bring you their e-waste?
We also offer recycling services for organisations big and small! By working with Kilmarnock, your organisation can dispose of old electronics responsibly, and create jobs for people with intellectual disabilities right here in Ōtautahi, Christchurch.
Learn more about corporate e-waste recycling here
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that electronic waste, or e-waste, is quickly becoming a serious global issue affecting human health and the environment.
E-waste, including broken and obsolete electronics such as computers, TVs, mobile phones, and more, has become the fastest-growing solid waste stream in the world, growing at a rate three times faster than population growth (International Labour Organisation).
The majority of electronic waste is not recycled; however, among the devices that are recycled, poor processes are rife, including the use of child labour, hazardous storage, and improper recycling techniques that put people and the environment at risk (International Labour Organisation).