Old TVs, New Life: How E-Waste Recycling inAuckland Is Gaining Momentum

Auckland’s e-wasteproblem is growing fast, but so is the solution. Thanks to local action andbig-brand support, thousands of old electronics are getting a second chance.And we're proud to be part of that change.

From Clutter to Change: Our E-Waste Journey inAuckland

Ever wondered whathappens to that old laptop gathering dust in your garage? Or the cracked TV youshoved in the office corner months ago? For more and more Aucklanders, theanswer isn’t the landfill, it’s responsible recycling. And we’re making thateasier than ever.

Since 2023, our teamat Echo has been running a powerful community-led initiative to tackle thecity’s growing e-waste problem. With the support of Samsung, we've hosted eightfree E-Day events across Auckland, giving people a simple, no-cost way to dropoff unwanted electronics and know they’ll be handled properly.

140,000+ Kilograms and Counting

Since we launchedthe programme, you’ve helped us collect over 140,000 kilograms of e-waste —everything from TVs and phones to laptops and kitchen appliances. All of it nowdiverted from landfills and sent into certified recycling streams.

Our May 2025 E-Daywas our biggest yet, with more than 45,955 kg collected in a single day. That’sthousands of items now on their way to being safely dismantled, repurposed, orrecycled, not polluting our environment.

Powered by People and One Big Tech Brand

This successwouldn’t be possible without the people of Auckland or without our partnershipwith Samsung. As a grassroots organisation, we’ve always relied on communityenergy. But teaming up with a major brand allowed us to scale, reach morepeople, and operate these events with the resources they truly require.

Samsung’s supportgoes far beyond branding. It’s what helps us pay staff, move equipment, spreadthe word, everything we need to make these events work.

For Samsung, thiswork is part of their wider sustainability and circular economy mission,reducing waste, reusing materials, and building more responsible techlifecycles. And for us, it's a partnership that makes real impact possible.

Want to Recycle Your Old Tech? Here’s How

Thinking aboutgetting rid of old electronics? Here’s what we recommend:

• Check for local E-Day events  — we regularly post upcoming dates and locations on our site and social media
• Back up and wipe data — for phones, tablets, or laptops, make sure your personal information is removed
• Remove batteries if possible  — it’s safer and makes processing easier
• Bundle cables or accessories  — these are often recyclable too

It’s completely freeto drop off your electronics at our Samsung E-Day events, and it only takes afew minutes.

A Greener Future Starts Here

As technologycontinues to evolve, so does the need for e-waste recycling, not just inAuckland, but across Aotearoa. That’s why we’re planning more events, expandingour reach, and exploring new ways to raise awareness and involve even morecommunities.

Together, we’reproving that when industry and community work side by side, real progress ispossible, one recycled device at a time.

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