TechCollect NZ has published recommendations for Aotearoa New Zealand’s regulated e-product stewardship scheme.
E-products are one of six priority products for regulated product stewardship under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008. Product stewardship places responsibilities for managing end-of-life products on producers, importers and retailers rather than on communities, councils, neighbourhoods and nature.
TechCollec NZ, a not-for-profit organisation, works with collection partners to provide a free collection and recycling service for information and communication technology equipment in Aotearoa New Zealand.
TechCollect NZ led the co-design process for the regulated e-product stewardship scheme from July 2020 to May 2023. It was supported in this work by the Circular E-stewards Network and had input from stakeholders in the e-product and e-waste value-chain across Aotearoa New Zealand and the globe.
In 2019 TechCollect NZ received a $320,000 grant from the Ministry for the Environment’s Te Pūtea Whakamauru Para Waste Minimisation Fund. This was to enable the company to build on its e-waste pilot programme, expand to more collection points, and to design options for a regulated e-waste product stewardship scheme.
The scheme helps Kiwis manage e-products (electrical and electronic products) sustainably throughout their life cycle and progress Aotearoa New Zealand’s transition to a circular economy.