[LINK] ewaste - or green tax

[Marghanita da Cruz]

Jan Whitaker wrote:
> On the radio this morning, there is a discussion about a 'bin tax' of 
> $50. Callers are asking why we should pay separately, who is going to 
> collect, we already are charged for the green recycling bins at no 
> choice, and what about those of us who already reduce our waste and 
> only put out a single bag once a week or even less?
> 
<snip>

In NSW we do pay for waste collection and it is big 
business. Check your rates notice, you will note that there 
may be a separate domestic waste charge. It is also worth 
noting, that this charge doesn't go through the same process 
as increases in rates.

I have been grumbling for some time that in my block of four 
units, I have established a shared compost heap and we share 
the equivalent of the minimum for two single dwellings - but 
pay the minimum for four.

Michael Skeggs mike at bystander.net wrote:
 > On 18 February 2010 12:58, Richard Chirgwin 
<rchirgwin at ozemail.com.au>wrote:
 >
 >> <snip>
 >> box and you can keep the old one (not get HD, though).
 >>
 >
 > A HD set top box will output the HD channels to a regular 
TV, so you can
 > watch the Formula 1 or Seinfeld reruns that are only on 
the HD channels on
 > your existing TV. The picture is optionally "letterboxed" 
or centred so you
 > miss the outer edges of the picture, and the picture 
quality is the same as
 > standard definition. My 51cm CRT TV is 10 years old this 
year, but I still
 > think of it as my "new" telly, so I won't be replacing it 
for a long while
 > yet. It is quite serviceable for watching HD broadcasts 
with the set top
 > box.

One of the issues that doesn't seem to be covered is those 
with Analog receivers in the video recorders.
see:
<http://www.digitalready.gov.au/>

For my part, I have a 1997 26"(?) TV, which was only 
replaced after a burglary in 1997. I have a hand me down 
recording device with a digital Tuner which provides me with 
Digital reception.

My e-waste collection already contains three laptops, a 
couple of routers, an I-Burst and Unwired (Bridge/Modem), 
PCMCIA dial up modems and assorted other stuff.

There is a bit of stuff in widescreen if not HD and if I 
letterbox SBS it is becomes even more difficult to read the 
sub-titles. Though my real dilema is which device to buy next?

> stephen at melbpc.org.au wrote:
> <snip>
>> The ABS report stated that nearly a quarter (23%) of electronic equipment 
>> and more than half (51%) of household appliances disposed of in the 12 
>> months to March 2009 were placed with the non-recycled garbage for 
>> kerbside collection.
>> 
>> According to the Environment, Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC), 
>> Australians discarded 16.8 million electronic devices in 2007/8. Only 9 
>> per cent of this was recycled while 88 per cent, or 14.7 million devices, 
>> were sent to landfill. The remainder was exported.

and from
<http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mediareleasesbytitle/5E3A7C36599D13FECA2576730012EDA0?OpenDocument>
 > Australian households embrace recycling - e-waste an 
exception: ABS
 >
 > Almost every Australian household (99%) participated in 
some form of recycling or reusing of waste, according to a 
report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics 
(ABS).
 >
 > However, nearly a quarter (23%) of electronic equipment 
and more than half (51%) of household appliances disposed of 
in the 12 months prior to March 2009 were placed with the 
non-recycled garbage for kerbside collection.
 >
 > Paper/cardboard/newspapers were recycled or reused the 
most (95% of households), followed by plastic bottles (94%), 
glass (93%) and plastic bags (90%).
 >
 > Just over half (51%) of Australian households recycled or 
reused kitchen or food waste.
 >
 > Australians increased their use of public transport to 
get to work or full-time study over the past decade, rising 
from 12% in 2000 to 14% in 2009. However, the overwhelming 
majority of Australians still travelled by car -- 80% in 
March 2009 compared to 82% in 2000.
 >
 > New South Wales and Victoria had the highest level of 
public transport use at 17%. This is a 4 percentage point 
increase for Victoria (up from 13% in 2000), but a 1 
percentage point drop (from 18%) in New South Wales.
 >
 > The main reasons reported for not using public transport 
were 'no service available at the right/convenient time' 
(27%), 'no service available at all' (26%) and 
'convenience/comfort/privacy in private vehicle' (22%).
 >
 > Half of Australian households had at least one working 
bicycle kept at their home. Bicycle ownership was highest in 
the Australian Capital Territory (66% of households) and 
lowest in New South Wales (46%).

Marghanita
-- 
Marghanita da Cruz
http://ramin.com.au
Tel: 0414-869202