E-waste recycling in Auckland is more important than ever. Old laptops,phones, and household electronics are piling up in drawers, garages, and landfills across the city. In fact, New Zealand is among the highest producersof e-waste per person in the world, yet only a small percentage is recycled responsibly.

At Echo, we want to make it easier foreveryone to get involved. That is why we launched our Schools E-Week programme, a new community recycling initiative designed to raise awareness and create simple, local opportunities for rangitahi and their whānau to recycle their old electronics.

Inspiring FutureChangemakers: E-Waste Education in Schools.

At the centre of Echo’sSchools E-Week programme is education. We work alongside teachers to bring sustainability and technology learning into the classroom, giving students the knowledge and tools to understand the real impacts of e-waste.

Throughout the week, Year 7-8 classes take part in assemblies, interactive lessons and hands-on activities that connect global environmental challenges with everyday choices. Studentsexplore the lifecycle of electronics, discover how recycling protects natural resources, and learn why safe disposal matters.

Making E-Waste Recycling Accessible for Auckland Families

One of the biggest barriers to e-waste recycling is convenience. Many people do not know where to take their unwanted electronics, or they do not have time to travel to drop-off points. Echo’s Schools E-Week programme changes that by bringing e-waste and battery recycling bins directly into local schools, creating easy access for parents, whānau, and neighbours.

This means families can clear out their old devices without hassle, while students lead the charge in building a culture of sustainability.

Panama Road School Leads the Way

The first Schools E-Week in Auckland was hosted at Panama Road School, where Year 7 and 8 students explored the impact of e-waste and how recycling helps protect the environment.

The week started with a school assembly and classroom learning, but it did not stop there. With Echo providing e-waste and battery bins, students encouraged their families and local community to drop off unwanted electronics.

The response was incredible: in just one week, the community collected 2,350 kilograms of e-waste, all responsibly recycled through Echo. The celebration wrapped up with a community sausage sizzle, bringing everyone together to mark the achievement.

Beyond the School Gates

For students, Schools E-Week goes beyond just talking about e-waste. In the month following the E-Week, Panama Road’s Year 7 and 8 classes visited the Echo recycling site in Auckland for a behind-the-scenes look at how e-waste is dismantled, recycled, and recovered.

Building Stronger Auckland Communities

Panama Road School is just the beginning. By rolling out Echo’s Schools E-Week programme across Auckland, we are creating more opportunities for local families to recycle responsibly and learn about the importance of a circular economy.

Every school that joins the programme helps its community take one more step toward reducing e-waste and protecting ourenvironment. Together, we can turn awareness into action and build a sustainable future for Auckland.

Echo’s Schools E-Week programme and community E-Days make it easy to recycle e-waste responsibly, while teaching rangitahi the importance of sustainability.

‍Want to bring Schools E-Week to your school or community? Get in touch at info@echotech.co.nz to learn more.

‍