Gloucestershire computer recycling firm hits milestone

The milestone was achieved even though new producer responsibility regulations stemming from Europe's WEEE Directive have still not been introduced in the UK.

The Gloucestershire company, which collects redundant IT from offices, has now set itself a much higher target in 2006.

Engelhard opened its plant in 2003 in anticipation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations, but the delay to the regions has caused some plans to be put on hold.

A spokeswoman for the company said: “The delay to the Directive has put some plans on hold, but it has not stopped Engelhard's growth in the business to business sector. In 2006 the company has set a target of recycling 50,000 computers.”

Engelhard does not refurbish equipment – equipment is broken down and recycled as individual materials. Steel goes into the scrap trade, copper is melted down and precious metals are also retrieved. “This guarantees a secure solution to the recycling of office computers,” the spokeswoman argued.

Directive
The WEEE Directive should have seen producers made responsible for contributing to collection and recycling costs for waste electronics from August 2005. With a fresh consultation into new regulations expected in the Spring, it now looks likely that producers will not be given recycling obligations much earlier than 2007.

In the mean time, some other electronics recyclers have been struggling to cope with investments in new machinery or equipment based on revenue expected from producers.

Items recycled by Engelhard include computer towers, monitors, fax machines, calculators and telephones. The company is working with a local courier to collect the equipment from all over the UK, although most collections are from local businesses.

John Setchfield, general manager at the Cinderford facility, said: “We have seen a definite increase in awareness about the WEEE Directive. This has led to a growing number of businesses using our national collection service.”

A collection bank for electronic equipment has also been placed at the company's head office for local residents to drop off their end of life equipment.