The Growing Issue of E-Waste: Why It’s Time to Act

E-waste, short for electronic waste, refers to discarded electronicdevices—everything from old phones to broken Bluetooth speakers. These itemsoften end up in landfills, contributing to an ever-growing environmentalproblem. According to Abby Damen from Consumers NZ, "When your Bluetoothspeaker breaks and you throw it into landfill because you don't know what elseto do with it, that might be considered e-waste."

The numbers are staggering. New Zealand produces anestimated 97,000 tonnes of e-waste annually. To put this into perspective,Damen explains, "That’s the equivalent of filling both Mount Eden Stadiumand the Sky Tower to the brim with four-slice toasters."

Consumers NZ has launched a petition calling for arepairability label on electronic products. The aim? To give consumers thepower to make informed decisions about how long their products will last andwhether they can be repaired. "If you think about it, you could go and buy a really affordable kettle for $11, but it’s quite unlikely that it will berepairable when it breaks," says Damen. Without available spare parts,these cheap appliances end up in landfills, contributing to the growing wasteproblem.

Countries like France have already implementedrepairability labels, which have pushed manufacturers to make longer-lastingproducts. The repairability label would work much like the energy efficiencylabels we’re already familiar with. Damen explains, "Instead of helpingyou understand how energy-efficient a product is, it will help you understandhow repairable it is and how long it’s likely to last."

In addition to the petition, there is the proposedRight to Repair Bill, which would require manufacturers to provide spare parts,closing a loophole in the Consumer Guarantees Act. If passed, it would makerepairs more accessible and reduce the number of electronics being discarded."This bill would ensure that products sold in New Zealand have spare partsavailable, making it easier for owners to get their appliances repaired insteadof replaced," says Damen.

Addressing e-waste is crucial, and both therepairability label and Right to Repair Bill aim to create a future where fewerelectronics end up in landfills, and consumers have the tools to make smarter,more sustainable purchases. As Damen urges, "We really can’t afford towait to take action in this space."

19/06

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