00:00As technology accelerates, so too does Australia's electronic waste problem.
00:10Companies like this are trying to save what they can from landfill.
00:13If we absolutely can't refurbish the acid and resell it into our global networks that
00:18we have around the world, then we'll recycle the acid.
00:22Australia generates about 500,000 tonnes of e-waste annually.
00:27That means each Australian produces about 20 kilograms of e-waste a year, compared
00:32with the global average of 7 kilograms.
00:35About half is recycled.
00:37E-waste is projected to rise nearly 30 per cent by 2030.
00:43Microsoft's decision to end support for its Windows 10 operating system in October
00:48could add another 240 million PCs to the global scrapheap.
00:53There will be a lot of devices that are not able to run that new version.
00:58Australia alone, that could equate to 12 million kilograms of PCs and acids going into landfill.
01:07Australia does have a mandatory industry-funded scheme for recycling e-waste, but it only
01:12covers TVs and computers.
01:15The peak body for the recycling industry, ACOR, says the scheme is far from perfect
01:20and lacks transparency.
01:23It wants urgent action to ensure the producers of all types of electronic products are held
01:29responsible for the waste they create.
01:32There are also calls for Australia to broaden its right to repair laws.
01:37The co-founder of this social enterprise, which collects e-waste, says some companies
01:41make it difficult to replace parts.
01:44Technology is constantly turned over and updated, and so there is almost a built-in obsolescence.
01:50A waste problem that could be solved.
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