WARD HIGHLIGHTS E-WASTE RECYCLING INITIATIVES IN PARLIAMENT

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has used the story of a local young person with a disability who runs a successful local e-waste recycling business to call for state-wide reform that would follow other Australian States in banning e-waste from landfill.

Mr Ward told NSW Parliament in a private members statement that former Shoalhaven Young Citizen of the Year and founder of Rekindle Me, Wade Cawley, was an inspiration and is part of the reason why Mr Ward wants to see once finite resources become infinite.  

CRS Wade Cawley – Dropbox                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

“Wade is an inspiration. He’s an example of a young person who is running a small business whilst doing something positive for our environment and people with disabilities,” Mr Ward said. 

“But Wade’s business was close to folding when his van needed a new electric battery to keep him going. This battery was simply something that Wade couldn’t afford. 

“I’m so thankful to our generous community that have made contributions so that Wade can purchase a battery to continue to run his van and his business. 

“Wade’s work highlights the fact that unlike other States, NSW does not have a ban on e-waste to landfill. This week, I told Wade’s story and used Parliament to explain why NSW should ban e-waste in landfills and ensure these elements are recycled here. 

“Currently, the world generates e-waste 5 times faster than we can recycle it. 

“In Australia, only 22 per cent of e‑waste was properly collected and recycled in 2022, but Australians generate around 20 kilograms of e-waste per capita, which is more than double the global average. In 2022 alone, across the world, we collectively buried $62 billion worth of recoverable natural resources as e-waste.

“I’ve recently visited a number of businesses that recycle e-waste. We have the capacity to ensure that once finite resources become infinite and I look forward to pressing this issue further in Parliament,” Mr Ward concluded.