Ecocycle started life as a specialist recycler of mercury-containing waste – mostly dental waste and fluorescent lighting waste.
To ensure safe handling of these hazardous materials we created an Australia-wide logistics network for collecting waste by the cardboard box load up to truckloads.
With trucks already on the road it was a simple step to expand our collection to other types of related waste, such as batteries and more bulky e-waste including computers and televisions.
Collecting old computers at the same time as waste lighting makes the whole process more efficient.
And the more waste that can be collected and safely recycled back into new products, the better for the planet.
So, what do we do with your e-waste?
Collection and transport
Often computers and TVs can be collected as is and loaded onto a truck or into a van.
However, for larger quantities resulting from, say, a major IT upgrade, we can provide large stillage bins that e-waste can be directly placed into. This reduces handling and avoids clutter.
Whatever the scale of your e-waste, pickup and transport is done by our company-owned trucks and company-employed and trained drivers.
Sorting and storage
Compared to lighting waste, which contains a relatively small range of materials that can be fully processed and separated automatically, e-waste is a real mixed bunch.
There are the basic metals such as steel, copper and aluminium that make up computer cases, wiring and hard drives.
And there are all sorts of plastics, glass in old screens, and the mishmash of components contained in printed circuit boards.
This means that sorting and separation are important initial steps in the processing of e-waste. The ‘cleaner’ that each waste stream is, the greater its value.
Sorting also makes for more efficient storage of materials that need to be stockpiled until commercial quantities accumulate.
Ecocycle is progressively investing in equipment that performs rapid and high-volume sorting of the various components found in e-waste.
Recycling
Mercury recycling still sits at the core of Ecocycle’s activities, so we are well equipped to process mercury-containing components. This includes the fluorescent lighting used in some types of computer screens.
We also break down the printed circuit boards and recover metals including mercury, silver, copper and steel. The residue is sent to specialist recyclers who extract the remaining materials.
Metals other than mercury are processed by our sister company, Recycal.
Plastics are currently being accumulated, and are destined for downstream applications that are currently under development.
Add your e-waste to the list
Whether you’re a regular lighting recycling client or have a one-off batch of e-waste to recycle we can help you take care of it.
Give us a call on 1300 32 62 92 or fill in the form below and let’s get recycling.
