Technology leasing specialist Equico launched its Equico Eco initiative in Wellington yesterday, expanding the school e-waste recycling programme from Auckland.
Under the initiative, Equico arranges collection of electronic waste, including PCs and monitors, from participating schools.
In response to an inquiry from Computerworld as to how the e-waste is recycled, Equico managing director Paul Beattie replied: "Once the eWaste is collected, we use local partner Recytech to dispose of the waste. All waste is disposed of through local recyclers that are certified under the Basel Convention for the legal export of electronic waste.
"If the equipment is re-usable in some capacity it is cleansed of data and exported directly to partners overseas.
"All waste is disposed of following best practises and we will not be putting anything in the landfill."
A statement from Equico yesterday notes: "Nearly 50 local schools in the Wellington region will participate in the programme over a two-week period.
"The launch follows the successful implementation of Equico Eco in Auckland, which saw more than 60 schools participate and over 25 tonnes of electronic waste collected.
"This included an estimated 700 desktop PCs, 500 monitors, 140 laptops and 135 printers."