The purpose of this report is to investigate whether there are opportunities for Business Services to become involved in the recycling of computers that have reached the end of their working life.
The approach adopted has been to interview the key decision makers in the Federal and State Governments, staff in industry associations and key executives in the recycling and computer industries. Published date and reports where available, have been reviewed.
Based on the information collected, a strategic analysis of the sector has been carried out and a competitive strategy identified for Business Services.
To assist the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and any other relevant decision makers, an outline plan of action has been prepared together with cost estimates and the possible number of jobs that could be created for supported employees.
Currently there are a number of terms used when referring to computers at the end of their working life. Unfortunately some people use the same terms for different purposes. The following terms are used in this report:
- Recycling refers to a computer at the end of its working life that has no further use.
- Dismantling refers to the action of taking a computer to pieces for the recycling of the components.
- Scraping assumes that the computer will be dismantled and its components recycled.
- Reuse and resale refers to computers that can continue to be used for their original purpose but possibly with some upgrading of replacement of components.
Where reference is made to 'electronic equipment'; it includes products such as desk top computers, notebooks, TV's, DVD's, game consoles, VCR's etc but excludes appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators etc.