By Patrick Avenell
Australia’s fifth largest city, Adelaide in South Australia, today turned off its analogue TV signal, starting a two month run of switch-offs across the country.
By the end of May 2013, only Darwin, Sydney, Melbourne and remote central Australia will still receive analogue signals. These areas will be turned off later in the year (see list below).
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According to the Federal Government department overseeing this switch-off, there are still around 600,000 Australians receiving analogue signals.
“Nearly 8 million of a total 8.6 million households across the country are already watching digital TV,” said Senator Stephan Conroy, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.
To accommodate the expected rush to dispose of unwanted analogue TVs, approved recycling co-regulator DHL Supply Chain has announced extended opening hours for its Drop Zones. These sites are available for the disposal of TVs and computer products, regardless of the brand, to be recycled (see list below).
“DHL is proud to provide free e-waste recycling services in Adelaide,” said DHL senior director Peter Bruce. “With the digital switch over, we realise there will be many people needing to get rid of old and unwanted analogue TVs.
“Our longer opening hours offer the community flexibility on when they can drop their e-waste off, plus peace of mind that the e-waste will be diverted from landfill.
“Since 30 July 2013, we have collected more than 700 tonnes of e-waste in Adelaide and expect to see a continued increase in volumes this year.”
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Future Switch Off Dates
2 April 13 Adelaide
9 April 13 Tasmania
16 April 13 Perth
28 May 13 Brisbane
30 July 13 Darwin
3 December 13 Sydney
10 December 13 Melbourne
10 December 13 Central Australia
Past Switch Offs
30 June 10 Mildura
15 December 10 SA Metro (ex Adelaide)/Broken Hill
5 May 11 Regional Vic
6 December 11 Coastal QLD (ex Brisbane), South of Cairns
5 June 12 South Central Regional NSW
5 June 12 ACT
27 November 12 Northern NSW
DHL Adelaide Drop Zones
Beverley Waste Transfer Station (2-6 Toogood Avenue, Beverley)
Edinburgh North Resource Recovery Centre (Bellchambers Road, Edinburgh North)
Salisbury Waste Transfer Station (61 Research Road, Pooraka)
Hearthfield Resource Recovery Centre (Scott Creek Road, Hearthfield)
Advanced Recycling Technologies (13 Chrysler Drive, Lonsdale)
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