By ANNA USHER

Mosman Council is calling on locals to help divert a record 100,000 kilograms of electronic waste from landfill, with the next free community collection day set for Sunday 24 August.

The biannual event, run in partnership with e-waste recycler, Sircel, has already seen residents dispose of 80,507kg of unwanted electronics since the program began in February 2022.

Items collected include televisions, laptops, mobile phones, and household appliances.

Council’s Environment Officer Loani Tierney said the initiative has been embraced by the community.

“We run regular collection events with Sircel that encourage residents to think more carefully about where their e-waste ends up,” she said. “The response has been incredibly positive, with locals getting involved in great numbers.”

E-waste refers to discarded electrical or electronic devices that, if not properly processed, can release harmful materials into the environment. By using Council’s drop-off service, residents are helping prevent these materials from ending up in landfill while ensuring valuable components are recovered and reused in Australia’s circular economy.

Since the partnership began, seven local events have been held, attracting more than 5,000 carloads of e-waste. Across Australia, the challenge remains significant — the country generates more than twice the global average of e-waste per person, with the national total projected to reach 657,000 tonnes by 2030.

Sircel CEO Anthony Karam said Mosman Council is setting an example for other local governments.

“By making it easier for residents to recycle responsibly, they’re protecting the environment, reducing reliance on offshore processing and creating local jobs,” he said.

Sircel’s research shows that nearly half of Australians don’t know what e-waste is, and 60 per cent are unaware much of it is shipped overseas to be dumped in developing countries. The company operates a large-scale mechanical recycling process onshore, targeting up to 100 per cent diversion from landfill and prioritising data security.

The next Mosman Council e-waste collection will take place on Sunday 24 August, from 9am to 4pm at Mosman Square Carpark.

More information is available on the website.