Responsibly recycle your e-waste with Noel Leeming

E-waste is one of New Zealand's fastest growing waste streams, and every year Kiwis throw away thousands of tonnes of unwanted tech. As part of our commitment to a more sustainable Aotearoa, Noel Leeming has partnered with TechCollect NZ, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to keeping e-waste out of landfill. Through this partnership, we're proud to offer free e-waste recycling at selected Noel Leeming stores nationwide.

Before you drop off

Not all e-waste can be recycled the same way. Some electronics contain hazardous materials that need specialist handling, and if they're not disposed of properly, they can be harmful to people, waterways, and the environment. That's why, right now, we can only accept items we can guarantee are recycled safely and responsibly - things like laptops, tablets, and printers (see the full list below).

For anything not on the list, your local council is the best place to start as they can point you in the right direction for safe disposal.

Before visiting:

• Check the accepted and unaccepted items list below 
  • Not everything can be dropped off, so before you make the trip, take a quick look at the accepted items list below to make sure what you're bringing qualifies for the programme.
• Remove any personal data from your devices 
  • Before dropping off any device, please make sure you've wiped all personal data. This includes photos, passwords, banking apps, and any saved accounts. If you're unsure how to wipe your device, a quick online search for your specific model will walk you through it.

 

Visit the store:

• Bring your items to the customer service desk for checking
  • Our team will check your tech to ensure it is on the acceptable items list and safe to take and process a transaction that validates your drop-off.  T
  • There is no charge for dropping off e-waste. 

For safety reasons, we can’t accept:

• Loose household batteries 
• Damaged, swollen, leaking or compromised batteries 
• Devices with damaged or unsafe batteries 
• Items outside the approved product list 

The items above can either pose a safety risk during collection and processing, or we are not yet able to provide a verified recycling pathway that meets our standards.

 

Where your e-waste goes

Accepted e-waste is processed through approved recycling partners operating to strict environmental, health and safety standards.

Where possible, materials are dismantled, sorted and recovered here in New Zealand. Some materials and components are then sent to specialist downstream processors overseas, where they can be safely refined and turned back into raw materials for manufacturing. for example, copper and aluminium recovered from old laptops and cables can be melted down and used in the production of new electronics.

All downstream recycling partners are independently audited and must comply with applicable environmental regulations and international agreements, including the Basel Convention governing the movement of waste materials.

Since the programme’s beginnings, tonnes of e-waste have been successfully recycled. Together with TechCollect NZ, we're helping protect our communities and environment by keeping hazardous materials , like lead, mercury, and lithium,  out of our landfills, waterways, and backyards, while making sure the valuable materials inside your old tech get a second life.

Want to know more about TechCollect NZ? TechCollect NZ is the not-for-profit organisation behind the programme, working with manufacturers, retailers, and recyclers to build a better future for e-waste in Aotearoa. Visit techcollect.nz to learn more about how the programme works and who's involved.