Government, Dunedin City Council (DCC) and Salvation Army all agree the rising flood of older televisions being dumped by consumers, in part precipitated by the upcoming change to digital television, is becoming a serious problem.
The solution is not so apparent.
There are about 2.2 million older-style cathode ray tube televisions in New Zealand, containing an estimated 4400 tonnes of lead, that need to be "responsibly recycled or disposed of", Environment Minister Nick Smith says.
DCC waste strategy officer Catherine Irvine said lead was a "hazardous waste" and she was concerned by the anticipated "huge increase in the number of TVs going to landfill".
The council has introduced a $20 fee for each television dropped off at the landfill.
It helped cover the cost of getting the televisions recycled but was not an ideal solution, Ms Irvine said.
"We've had a few people pay the $20 but not everyone is receptive to that. We need to find a way to make it easier and much more accessible," she said.
Major Glenn Anderson, of the Salvation Army, agrees.
Between the Salvation Army's three second-hand stores in Dunedin the group is now getting more than 50 televisions a week, many of which cannot be turned away because they are left outside the stores after hours.
"It costs us to get rid of the televisions. That's becoming a big issue," Major Anderson said.
Jane Orbell, who manages the Salvation Army's King Edward St, South Dunedin, store, said the cost of disposing of the televisions would reduce the money the organisation had available for its social service functions.
The Government is hoping business might have a solution.
Last week, Dr Smith said he wanted to hear from businesses, particularly retailers, who may have proposals "to provide a recycling service in parallel with the sale of new TVs".
