Toowoomba region residents can take a stand for recycling by leaving equipment at the regional electronic waste collection day on Saturday, October 24.

Toowoomba Regional Council is holding a free collection day from 8.30am to 2.30pm in the Water Street carpark off Herries Street, Toowoomba.

Environmental and Community Services portfolio leader Cr Bill Cahill said the collection was one way householders and businesses could ensure electronic equipment was recycled and diverted from landfill.

“Residents are to be congratulated for supporting the past four collections,” he said.

“People around the region have left more than 50 tonnes of electronic waste to be recycled.

“This volume of waste is equivalent to six large semi-trailer loads.

“This is a great achievement and we need to ensure people don’t take the easy option by putting items in a wheelie bin or throwing them out at landfill sites.

“Recycling ensures equipment does not enter landfill sites where toxic chemicals could leach into groundwater supplies.

“All waste collected will be broken down and recycled by Toowoomba firm Free Collect. Items are not re-used or sold by council to third parties. Free Collect recovers plastics, steel, copper, aluminium, electric motors, gold and silver.

“The collection also extracts heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium which can be used by other industries.”

Cr Cahill said Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed Australians would discard or stockpile nine million computers, five million printers and two million scanners by the end of the year. Other estimates revealed around 500,000 of these items would be recycled annually.

Council officers will collect electronic items including all computer gear and peripherals, televisions, video, DVD and CD players, digital and video cameras, scanners, printers, mobile and landline phones and cables.

Whitegoods, kitchen appliances and hot water systems can not be accepted. Packaging will not be accepted and should be placed in either your home waste or recycling bin.

The collection is being sponsored by NJ’s Canvas and Party Hire in conjunction with recycling firm Free Collect.