Data security stops 40% of Aussies from recycling

Almost 40 percent of Australians are too worried about their “personal data getting into the wrong hands” to recycle electronic devices, according to research commissioned by TechCollect.

The survey also found 45 percent of Australians do not recycle electronic devices and parts, even though they almost unanimously (95.7 percent) believe that recycling is important.

TechCollect, an e-waste collection and recycling service provider, said that data security should not deter people from recycling environmentally harmful computers, smartphones and televisions.

“While data security is an important concern, it is relatively simple to address before disposing of your e-waste,” announced the non-profit service provider. “For more information on how to do this contact the manufacturer of your device or search online for data wiping services.”

TechCollect is funded by a consortium of electronics vendors, including Toshiba, Canon, Epson, HP, Fuji Xerox, Dell and Brother. The organisation runs its free recycling service under the federal government’s National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.

“An important priority for the scheme is to educate the public to understand the important role we all play in responsible e-waste recycling. In the digital age where technology consumption is at an all-time high, this has never been more prevalent,” said chief executive Carmel Dollisson.

More than 50 percent of Australians had three or more unused devices at home, according to the research, with 46 percent not knowing how to recycle electronics.

One big concern for TechCollect was that 43 percent of those surveyed confessed to disposing of electronics on the street during council clean-up days.

“Often people will try and do the right thing, without realising that kerbside collections don’t always provide a guarantee that the product won’t end up in landfill,” said Dolisson.

“By recycling televisions and computers through a program like TechCollect we ensure that non-renewable resources are safely recovered, so that they can be used again in future manufacturing, as well as ensuring that product containing materials which can be dangerous to both people and the environment if put in landfill, are instead correctly recovered or disposed of.”