The computer industry association, the 'Australian Information Industry Association'; who represent about 50 per cent of the industry with the balance being the 'white box'; or unbranded market will have a proposal, after several attempts, ready in October 2006 for discussion with the Federal Government. This proposal will cover the contentious issues of 'free loading'; [the white box sector] and the opportunity for some manufactures to have their own scheme.
The legacy problem relates to computers that are branded but the company in question is no longer in existence or its ownership has changed.
It is probable that each computer sold will include an 'Advanced Recycling Fee'; to fund the recycling programme. The 'white box'; sector of the computer industry may contribute by way of an additional charge on a small range of key components used in the assembly of every computer. For example, there are a very small number of computer chip manufacturers worldwide. It is proposed that as these chips enter Australia they will attract a charge or levy which will be remitted to the administrators of the scheme, to help fund the recycling programme.
Depending on the outcome of the discussions it is likely that the Australian Information Industry Association will administer the fund. They have stated that they will be looking for a contestable tendering programme and will be ready to seek expressions of interest in October/November of 2006.
Details such as variable rates for the additional transport costs of collecting computers from say far western New South Wales will be covered in these tenders. The Association is not interested in any reuse of computers and has restricted its programme strictly to 'end of life'; machines.
The proposed national programme will be expected to meet certain minimum standards which include some of the requirements set out in the European Directive [WEEE] that require some components to be processed separately due to their chemical composition and thus the computer must first be dismantled
Private Sector Recyclers
There are 3 major computer recycling companies in Australia, the largest one has recently established a new division to expand their businesses into the recycling of electrical and electronic products and have acquired the technology to recycle a range of products from dismantled or shredded computers and related equipment. They operate facilities in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane and have a contract to recycle the computers that are being deposited at the transfer station in the City of Boroondara under the 'Byteback'; programme, and they have expressed an interest in working with organisations that employ people with disabilities. The second major commercial recyclers of computers and other electronic equipment have operations in Melbourne and Sydney. The company lists nearly all the major computer companies as their customers, with whom they have a variety of commercial relationships. They have also developed a process to separate the front section of the glass cathode ray tube, which has different lead levels from the remainder of the tube. The smallest of the tree major recyclers is based in Melbourne and has a new 'Ewaste Management'; unit set up within its Third Party Services Division. This unit recently acquired a special glass-crushing unit used for the disposal of cathode ray tubes.
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Victorian State Government
Sustainability Victoria, a Victorian Government organization charged with the responsibility amongst other tasks, of promoting computer recycling, has establish 'Byteback'; which is a free service available to residents and small businesses who want to dispose of unwanted, old and unused computers in a safe and environmentally responsible way. Large businesses are expected to use other routes to dispose of their computers.
They have established the first Byteback site in Camberwell in the City of Boroondara. .
Sustainability Victoria and a leading computer manufacturer are currently sharing the costs of operating the first site. It is Sustainability Victoria's hope that other industry participants will share the costs of additional sites as part of the plan. Larger businesses will be expected to use commercial recyclers to dispose of their old equipment. The proposed locations for the first sites are:
- Eastern Melbourne [Already operating in Camberwell]
- Western Melbourne
- Northern Melbourne
- South East Melbourne
- Geelong
- Ballarat
- Bendigo
- Traralgon
The plan is to establish Byteback first in the Melbourne locations and then follow with the country sites. Expressions of interest could be called as soon as October 2006 for the Western Melbourne site.
Byteback-Camberwell
The first long-term computer take-back pilot in Australia has been located at the waste transfer station in the City of Boroondara in Camberwell. The City is located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne and has a population of around 160,000. It is the only source of accurate information about computer recycling in Australia. Some of the key facts to date are:
- Annual volumes are around 200 metric tonnes. Based on an average weight of 25 kilogrammes for a complete computer [monitor, box and keyboard] this represents about 8,000 computers.
- Based on the volume of computers deposited at the transfer station in the City of Boroondara and extrapolating to estimate a national figure there could be around 1,000,000 computers per annum available for recycling in Australia. Note however that the income levels of this part of Melbourne are relatively high. Conversely the City of Boroondara programme is still in its start up phase.
- A manned transfer station has been the lowest cost way of collecting computers to date. Initial work has confirmed that residents are unwilling to pay more than a nominal figure for the disposal of unwanted computers. [Around perhaps $5 per computer.]
- The fees being paid to the recyclers are equating to $1,000 per tonne or $200,000 per annum or $25 per computer.
- The distance/time that people are prepared to travel to the transfer station is about 20 minutes.
- Based on a local survey 80% of households are using or would be prepared to use the Byteback facility.
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Byteback Contractor's Responsibilities
The following list covers the main points that the contractor operating the recycling programme is expected to achieve.
Planning
- Development of safety and environmental plans for collection, transportation and processing.
- Product/materials tracking, reporting and recording.
- Work with Sustainability Victoria to provide all necessary information.
Execution, Operations, Collection, Sorting, Segregation and Processing
- OH&S management system
- Training of site staff
- Provision of all labour and equipment
- Segregation, sorting and processing of all products
Reporting
- Weekly/monthly reports
- Record amounts, brands and types of products and materials received.
- Programme financials showing costs and revenues of all sections of the programmes.
Relationship between the Victorian and the Proposed National Programme
Sustainability Victoria's expects that the Victorian programme will be merged into the national programme when it commences. It is anticipated that there will be a smooth transition from the current State based system to the new national system due in part to the States and the Federal Governments current working together through the Environmental Protection and Heritage Council.
Other State and Territory Governments
There are no State Government wide programmes currently operating in other States. Various State Government Departments appear to have their own arrangements.
NGO's, Not for Profit, Business Services and Other Organizations
The Australian Consumer Association lists a number of locations in Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT that will recycle computers with some accepting drop-offs and some charging for the services.
Based on the pricing information, where stated, it is possible to infer that some sites are only interested in computers in volume and not single machines, thus effectively excluding households.
There are a number of small organizations that have been or are currently involved in computer reuse and recycling.
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Victoria
Based on an Internet search there were ten recycling organizations listed in Victoria. Most were involved with community groups including supplying equipment for people with disabilities and shipping overseas to 'needy customers';. One of the commercially based organizations listed, has a service charge of $14 per monitor and a pick up fee of $50.
New South Wales
In the City of Sydney there are four organizations listed, some with multiple sites that are involved in recycling computers.
One currently operates a Business Service in Sydney which recycles computers from a number of New South Wales State Government Departments. Originally this operation was set up under the 'Work for the Dole'; programme to train people in the basics of computer repair but following recent changes it will now be operated as a Business Service with one supervisor and seven clients. It has to date concentrated on refurbishing computers for sale to unemployed people and those in receipt of a payment from Centrelink. The computers were typically sold for $50 to $450 depending on their specification with software. Any surplus components or other materials were placed in free skip bins and taken from the site at no cost but with no revenue either, for the components.
Another Business Service with outlets in Sydney and Melbourne is a non-profit company involved in employment, training, economic development and electronic repair services employing around 200 people with a turnover in excess of $20 million. They charge $15 per unit to cover the cost of disposal, transport and labour.
A Business Service based in regional NSW is currently dismantling computers and reselling a small number of used computers.
This service has a contract with a university to recycle used computer equipment including the cleaning of the 'C'; drives. This service is provided at a cost of $15 per box.
Clients, employed by this business service, assessed as being at DMI Level 4 are capable of dismantling computers and the work is generally attractive as it is clean, can be carried out in pleasant surroundings without heavy or noisy machinery. There are opportunities to use air operated power tools or cordless drills which adds to the interest. For clients with higher skills there are opportunities to assist in the refurbishing of machines for resale.