Free e-waste drop-offs in Meredith, Bannockburn

THE Golden Plains Shire has scheduled two free e-waste drop-off days for residents who want to dispose of old or unwanted electrical items.

The drop-off events will be held on Saturday 30 May and Saturday 6 June in Meredith and Bannockburn.

The first will run from 9am to 1pm on Russell Street in Meredith and the following week’s between the same times at the Golden Plains Civic Centre in the Bannockburn Family Services Centre car park.

People will be able to drop off a range of household electronic items such as toasters, coffee machines, slow cookers, blenders, food processors, computers, laptops, tablets, hard drives, scanners and printers.

Items not accepted include whitegoods, CDs and DVDs. Large and bulky items such as whitegoods can be taken to the council’s Rokewood Transfer Station.

Residents can register to participate by visiting goldenplains.vic.gov.au/resident/waste-management/e-waste

Walk-ups will also be welcome on both days.

E-waste includes any item with a plug, battery or power cord. Discarded items are dismantled and separated into components such as plastic, glass, metal wiring and circuit boards.

Those materials are then sent to specialised recyclers and manufacturers to be made into new products.

Golden Plains mayor Cr Owen Sharkey said the drop-off events would support responsible recycling and would help to keep harmful materials out of landfill.

“E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams, and these collection days give our community a simple, safe way to do the right thing for the environment,” Cr Sharkey said.

“I encourage residents to look through their homes, sheds and cupboards for any unused or broken electronic items.

“Bringing them to our e-waste collection days is an easy way to reduce clutter while helping our shire reduce landfill and recover valuable materials.”