Toxic e-junk probe baffles recycler

A hazardous-material check has been ordered on 58 containers of electronic junk. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

The owner of a company at the centre of a Ministry of Economic Development investigation into hazardous electronic waste says he has poured his energy into saving space in New Zealand landfills, and has no idea why his company is being investigated.

Alex Hong, of CRTNZ, said yesterday that details of the investigation were unclear, and he believed he had acted according to the conditions of his contract to export electronic waste, including computer monitors.

But the ministry's national enforcement unit is investigating an allegation against Mr Hong's company, believed to be to do with whether it has mixed hazardous waste with reusable computer items in containers to be sent to South Korea.

The material came from collection points set up last month by the 2020 Communications Trust in its eDay campaign, which encouraged people to leave obsolete computers and other electronic equipment so they could be disposed of without harming the environment.

Mr Hong said yesterday that although some of the regulations were complicated, he believed he had done everything correctly.

"I have every confidence I'm doing it right, so I'm thinking I'm safe."

He said his biggest concern was that the products were "frozen", unable to be exported.

"Everything is stopped," Mr Hong said.

It was the first time he had been contacted by the Ministry, he said.

An inspection report, dated October 23 and provided to the Herald by 2020 Communication Trust chairman Earl Mardle, shows that 90 computer screens stowed separately from the pre-packed pallets were within the standards required.

If the inspectors found anything that wasn't working, they would consider it hazardous waste.

"If they find one failed device they must abort the inspection and leave the premises immediately," Mr Mardle said.

"Two containers have been handled under this process; only 58 to go."

Mr Mardle said the allegation of improper handling of hazardous waste was yet to be proven, but every day the products were sitting in yards added extra costs to eDay.

The company had called in independent inspectors at a cost of about $30,000 to go through 60 container-loads.

Mr Hong's company uses the standard recycling symbol of three arrows in the shape of a triangle, and says on its website that it is a "leading New Zealand company specialising in e-waste disposal and recycling".

At the company's yard in Penrose yesterday, dozens of large, neatly stacked piles of old computer screens could be seen.

Other electronics remain in Kiwi Rail shunting yards, waiting to be inspected before they can be exported.

On eDay, September 12, 966 tonnes of old computers and other electronic devices were collected.

Some were to be dismantled for recycling and others were to be resold.