Company News

A new Envirnomental Procurement policy for e-waste

An October federal government discussion paper on ESP Policy (Environmentally Sustainable Procurement) for ICT goods illustrates the challenges Australia faces with e-waste. ICT covers goods such as laptop and desktop computers, mainframes, phones and tablets, monitors, servers, printers and other hardware accessories. Importantly, anyone dealing with Federal government departments needs to be aware of the implications of the discussion paper on new procurement categories coming into effect. …

Recycal’s continued transition to environmental sustainability.

Ecocycle and its sister company Recycal are continuing their transition to environmental sustainability. Few groups have invested as heavily in ensuring world best practice in their processing operations. With the support of the Tasmanian government, Recycal can now shred all the unprocessed scrap generated in Tasmania. Importantly, scrap no longer has to be sent overseas or to the mainland, saving millions in freight equalisation subsidies. Rocherlea Upgrade Moreover, the group has investe…

IT Executives understand the extent of the e-waste problem.

Undoubtedly, IT executives now understand the extent of the e-waste problem. Whether you are a manufacturer, retailer or distributor, the growth of electronic equipment has become a ticking environmental time bomb. According to the World Health Organization e-waste is the fastest growing solid waste stream in the world. Over 61 million metric tonnes of electronic devices, such as computers, servers, smartphones and printers were discarded in 2023. This is estimated to grow to 75 million tonn…

Disposal of vapes into landfill still a problem

Disposal of Vapes continues to be a problem.

Disposal of Vapes into landfill continues to be a problem. Import figures reveal that over 90 million vapes are coming into the country each year. Moreover, one million vapes are going into landfill each week. The problem is escalating, despite legislation passed late last year. From January 1st import of single use disposable nicotine vapes was banned. Furthermore, on March 1st, a ban on all other vapes followed, unless the importer had a licence and a permit. Sadly marketing of non-nicoti…

EU Legislators to outlaw use of Needless Mercury

EU legislators have started the process to outlaw the use of needless mercury in dental amalgam. In January members of the European parliament also voted in favour of phasing out the manufacture and export of EU banned mercury added lamps by 2025. Thereby, putting an end to double standards. They also requested studies and further work on crematoria, mercury added compounds, as well as other remaining uses of mercury in the EU. These actions should reduce emissions by up to 10 tonnes of mer…

The Toyota Prius uses nickel metal hydride batteries

Driving Change, EV Battery Recycling is still a growing industry.

Today electric vehicles (EVs) represent 7% of all new car sales. This marks a significant shift towards sustainable transportation. In Australia, the average age of a fossil fuel car on the road is 10 years. While we are well-versed in the end-of-life processes for traditional vehicles, there is still much to learn about the ageing of high-voltage EV batteries. Importance of EV battery recycling Research conducted last year by the University of Technology Sydney revealed that by 2030, 30,000 …

The concept of urban mining. What it all means.

The concept of urban mining, like so many other recycling terms needs to be explained. The general populace understands primary mining where resources in the ground are mined. Urban mining though is a new term that needs to be simply explained in terms of recovering precious metals from electronic objects that have outlived their useful life. Rather than these items going into landfill and potentially harming our environment there is a significant business opportunity in using recycled minera…

World class lithium recycling development gets the go-ahead.

Ecobatt, part of the Ecocycle group of companies has given the go-ahead for a new $30 million lithium battery recycling plant. Importantly, creating a total processing precinct for batteries at the group’s headquarters in Campbellfield, Victoria. To be operational in late 2025 the plant will use cutting edge technology from Europe. The plant will be able to process more than 30,000 tonnes of batteries per year. Above all it will provide an unmatched sustainable solution to Australia’s anticipat…

The Recycling of LEDs need more focus in Australia

With the need for energy efficient-lighting solutions increasing, the recycling of old LEDs and mercury bearing lights needs more focus. Zoltan Sekula, of e-waste recycler Ecocycle believes more needs to be done. “Increased public awareness and educational campaigns are required. We must help people understand the regulations surrounding the ban on lighting products containing mercury”. Zoltan believes that whilst the total amount of lighting products being recycled has increased in recent y…

Western Australia Champions Environmental Responsibility with E-Waste Landfill Ban

In a decisive move towards a sustainable future, Western Australia (WA) is poised to implement a groundbreaking e-waste landfill ban this year, marking a pivotal moment in the state's commitment to environmental stewardship. The comprehensive ban, a result of an inclusive public consultation process concluded last November, encompasses a diverse array of electrical and electronic items, including household essentials such as televisions, mobile phones, computer screens, data storage, refrigerato…

10th anniversary of the adoption of Minamata

10th Anniversary of adoption of Minamata

October 2023 marked the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Minamata Convention. A deal that showed the importance of international diplomacy when it comes to supporting environmental and health issues. It should be noted there are now 147 parties that have ratified the agreement. The agreement calls for countries to phase out mercury use in products. As well as that the agreement seeks to ban the opening of new mercury mines, and limit mercury emission into the environment. Australia w…

Managing Mercury Risk

Managing mercury risk is an important issue for many Australian industrial companies. Mercury causes very harmful and lasting health impacts due to its toxicity. The World Health Organisation ranks it in the top ten chemicals for public health concerns. The Minimata Convention, adopted in 2013 is a global health treaty. It was ratified by many countries to raise awareness, and control mercury supply and trade. Importantly, its aim was to reduce the use and release of mercury into the envir…

Ecocycle buys first AI-powered mercury-safe technology

Ecocycle has acquired the first automated ‘mercury-safe’ flat screen recycling machine from Irish firm FPD Recycling, as Australia’s e-waste challenges mount. The FDP PRO is a fully automated recycling system that can safely and efficiently recycle flat panel displays, including televisions, monitors and laptops. It can depollute up to 60 displays in an hour and features a state-of-the-art filtration system to protect workers from exposure to mercury, lead and other hazardous materials. …

Ecocycle unveils new branding

It’s a new day for Australasia’s leading mercury recycler, Ecocycle, after the company revamped its branding to strengthen its various recycling services. Ecocycle, formerly CMA Ecocycle, recently updated its branding to highlight its different business units, which will also include Ecobatt and Ecoe-waste. “There are so many different products that can be recycled in the sector today, however we focus on specific products and niche markets rather than being a general waste company,” said …

Ecocycle has partnered with PNG firm Total Waste Management to process fluorescent lighting. (Pictured: Port Moresby, eGuide Travel, Flickr CC)

Ecocycle featured on inside waste

Details about Ecocycle's partnership with Total Waste Management (TWM) in Papua New Guinea was recently featured on Inside Waste. The article talks about how Ecocycle has partnered with TWM to reverse the historically negative story of international transfers of toxic waste. "With appropriate licenses from the environment protection agencies in both countries, Ecocycle will take mercury-containing waste collected by TWM, primarily fluorescent lighting, and process it in its facilities in M…

Ecocycle response to EPA Victoria’s public notice

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria recently published a public notice in major newspapers announcing that the previous owner of Ecocycle, CMA Recycling Pty Ltd (In Liquidation), had been found guilty of storing prescribed industrial waste, including mercury, at a site in Reo Crescent in Campbellfield without a licence. CMA Recycling Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) was fined $60,000 and ordered to pay EPA Victoria’s costs of $52,193.41. Given that the guilty party went into liquidati…

Laser Group And Ecocycle Switch On Lighting Recycling Partnership

It might not quite have been love at first sight, but when Laser Group and Ecocycle first met they were clearly a perfect match. Laser Group is a leading network of electrical and plumbing contractors spread across Australia. Ecocycle is Australia’s only fully licensed recycler of mercury and a major battery recycler. Many of Laser Group’s national network of nearly 90 electrical contracting firms are helping Australian householders and businesses slash their greenhouse gas emissions and s…

Ecocycle partners with recycling plant in Papua New Guinea

Historically the story of international transfers of toxic waste has not been a happy one. The tendency has been for industrialised countries to ship waste to less developed nations where it is either dumped, often illegally, or manually broken down for recycling with no regard given to the health and safety of workers. Now, Australia’s largest and most experienced recycler of mercury-containing waste, Ecocycle, is partnering with Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) world-class waste and environmenta…

Ecocycle forges partnership with Ecovantage

Lighting upgrade company Ecovantage has selected Ecocycle as its exclusive recycling partner. The agreement will see all lighting waste resulting from Ecovantage’s operations sent to Ecocycle for responsible recycling and mercury recovery. Ecovantage operates in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. Its primary activity is the creation of energy efficiency certificates under each state’s energy efficiency scheme through replacing existing lighting with more efficient LED lighting.…

Tasmanian regulators turn attention to mercury levels in water

Many Tasmanian dentists may be unaware that they are defined as “commercial trade waste generators”. The problem is dental amalgam. EPA Tasmania regulated that, from 1 October 2008, dental practices must employ dental amalgam separators. Since then, dentists have been required to keep mercury waste out of waterways, so the installation of amalgam separators in dental practices has been mandatory for more than 8 years. Yet, through a combination of lack of awareness among the dental profess…

Ecocycle accredited across quality, safety and environmental management standards

Ecocycle recently achieved accreditation under AS/NZS 5377, the Australian and New Zealand management system standard that applies to the collection, storage, transport and treatment of electrical and electronic waste (e-waste). Ecocycle is now accredited under all of the safety, quality and environmental management systems that are relevant to its activities. These are: AS/NZS 4801: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems ISO 9001: Quality Management Systems ISO 14001…

Ecocycle applauds UK’s lead in banning microbeads

The UK government has banned the manufacture of products containing microbeads – small particles of plastic that have been used in products such as facial scrubs, cosmetics and toothpaste. The problem is that these particles get flushed down the drain and end up in our oceans where fish and other animals eat them. The results can be deadly, and there’s even the risk that microbeads will end up on our dinner plates. The United States banned microbeads in 2015. In contrast, Australia opte…

Ecocycle accepted as partners of UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

In further recognition of its commitment to preventing the many adverse consequences of mercury pollution, Ecocycle has been accepted as a partner of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Mercury Partnership. To date, Ecocycle is the only Australian organisation to become a program partner. The Global Mercury Partnership is a sub-program of the UN Environment Chemicals and Waste Branch, which seeks to facilitate global action so countries can achieve the clean production, …

Ecocycle's certificate for Hume Business Awards 2016

Ecocycle named finalist in Hume Business Awards 2016

We are pleased to share that Ecocycle was selected as a finalist in the Hume City Council Business Awards 2016, held on December 8. Ecocycle was recognised for their sustainability practices within the municipality. The awards recognise and acknowledge businesses from Hume City for their excellence and for the significant contribution they make to the local economy. According to the Hume City Council, Hume City’s businesses support the economic prosperity of the region by providing empl…

New truck to collect and transfer materials for recycling

We've acquired a new, custom-built truck at Ecocycle. The truck, which is currently being used in Western Australia, will collect materials for recycling and safely transport them to our recycling facility. We'll be looking to roll out more trucks across the country in the future.…

The Ecocycle world class purpose build Batch Process Distiller distills recovered mercury waste for safe transport.

A Major Step Towards A Cleaner Dental Industry

The Industry is pleased to announce a ground-breaking agreement that will help to significantly reduce the amount of toxic mercury that enters the environment. All major companies that currently supply amalgam retention cups to dentists, Cattani, Ritter Dental with their Metasys range and Dürr (on behalf of their agents) Henry Schein, Ivoclar, Sirona and William Green, have entered into signed exclusive agreements that will ensure their amalgam retention cups will only be sold on a replacemen…

Ecocycle featured in the Australian mining review

Ecocycle was recently featured in the June issue of The Australian Mining Review. Mining waste comes in many different forms, and unfortunately, a large number of its compounds that are extracted are mixed with poisonous materials such as cadmium, arsenic and mercury. Ecocycle works with many of the larger mining waste companies, we also work directly with large industrial clients to help keep hazardous contaminants out of the environment. We are the only company in Australia with the expe…

Ecocycle Boosts Mercury Recycling At ADX2016 Sydney

Ecocycle is proud to have been a major sponsor of Australia’s largest dental exhibition, ADX16, held in Sydney last month. The Ecocycle Café and Ecocycle Drinks helped to raise awareness of the brand and, more importantly, spark interest in amalgam recycling by dental practices that haven’t yet installed amalgam separators. Also giving a boost to the cause of safe mercury waste disposal was a product showcase presentation by Ecocycle’s dental specialist, Mr Ian Crawford. His talk, Remov…

Visit Us At The 2015 Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo

The Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo is on at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre from 12-13 August, and we’ll be there. The expo is free to anyone looking for waste management and recycling solutions. Ecocycle is the only mercury recycler to be fully licensed by the Environmental Protection Agencies in each state to handle the entire process of recycling mercury-containing waste. We are ideally placed to help you dispose of fluorescent tubes and bulbs, dental amalgam w…

Find What You’re Looking For On Our New Website

Since our change of ownership earlier this year we’ve been working hard to re-commission equipment, process the backlog of waste left by the former owners and restore Ecocycle to its position as Australia’s premier recycler of mercury. To compliment these changes behind the scenes, we’ve also created a brand new website. The new website reflects our commitment to protecting the environment and providing an outstanding level of service to all of our customers. It focuses on the main industries…

Categories

Latest News

Sign up for the latest recycling news

Mercury Recovery & Recycling

Information

Latest News