At e-Recycle, our job is reuse. We
try to repair and extend the life of as many products as possible, regardless
of their age, condition or potential for resale. But despite our best efforts,
it's not always possible to save every device. And even when they can be
restored to health, it can sometimes be difficult to find a new user for them.
It is therefore very important for us to control the end-of-life stages of our e waste recycling Brisbane.
Today, therefore, we want to zoom
in on our recovery and recycling initiatives because there is no small gesture
for the circular economy.
Batteries: a major issue for recycling
In recent years, lithium-ion
batteries have been found everywhere in our daily lives. In smartphones of
course, but also in electric cars, connected objects, motorhomes, etc. Demand
on the Chinese market has exploded this year, causing the price to rise 88%
since January! However, lithium is a rare material and its extraction and
refinement require a significant amount of energy.
Indeed, the battery is probably the
electronic waste with the most impact on the environment. Whether during the
metal extraction stages or during treatment at the end of the battery's life,
it involves a high emission of greenhouse gases. But it is above all in the depletion
and pollution of natural resources that the damage is done. Indeed, the
extraction of lithium consumes a large amount of water and pollutes the soils
and nearby rivers. Finally, its recycling rate is still very low unlike other
metals. Its production is therefore linear, which implies a strong
environmental footprint.
Our partner for battery recycling:
It is for these reasons that it was
essential for us to find an expert partner in battery recycling. To this end,
we discovered the Batribox Company, part of Scree, a non-profit
eco-organization. Batribox takes back used batteries that cannot be reused with
another product. Batribox and scree are very knowledgeable about the most
advanced recycling solutions for this type of material. They are constantly
looking to improve their recovery rate to limit the need for lithium
extraction. This is why we have trusted them for two years in the end-of-life
management of our batteries.
Another piece for which we have
found an alternative to the classic end of life: broken screens. The screens of
smartphones and tablets consist of both a window and a light panel. Very often,
a user considers that the screen is out of use when the glass is broken, while
the light panel that composes it can still be reused! We are therefore working
with an independent partner who takes over these screens in order to find a
second use for them. Considering the environmental footprint of manufacturing a
smartphone screen and recycling it (incinerated or stored), this allows us to further
limit the impact of our waste.
What about the accessories recycling?
When taking back a device, it is
very common for our customers to send the shell and accessories of their
equipment even this is not requested. In the majority of cases, these accessories
(chargers, headphones, etc.) still work, but cannot be sent to new customers
when purchasing refurbished products. Indeed, they are too difficult to test,
and it is therefore difficult to guarantee their lifespan.
In order to ensure that this still
functional equipment is not scrapped, we are now working with the Lyonnaise Wee
fund association, which takes back our chargers, headphones and laptop covers
in e waste recycling Brisbane. Wee
fund works for digital inclusion through material and educational supports
programs for audiences most affected by the digital divide. The reuse of these
accessories therefore allows us to have both an ecological and social impact.
Finally, we collect the hulls
during the take-over in order to send them to the Australian company Merit. It
recycles them to make new ones:
The hulls are first processed and
then crushed to make granules.
New cases are produced with
recycled materials.
Finally, they are packaged with
100% recycled materials.
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