Auckland firm Computer Recycling is primed to capitalise on the flourishing electronic recycling market, following a multi-million dollar technology investment. The 30-person company this year commissioned its $3.6 million BluBox and optical sorter system – which shreds and sorts electronics such as laptops, TVs and mobile phones so they can be more efficiently transported and recycled.
Paul Whittaker, the firm’s Chief Financial Officer, says there are only about eight BluBox systems operating around the world and the purchase – part-funded with $1.5m from the Ministry for the Environment – is a huge win for the company and the environment.
The BluBox can safely remove mercury from products such as LCD screens and can also extract precious metals, such as those in computer motherboards, which can be re-used in electronics.
The technology has nearly doubled the amount of e-waste it can process.
“The components come out like cornflakes, and we can fit a whole lot more into a container.
“It’s also given us a higher profile. We are looking at a number of opportunities in the private and public sector that could mean substantial growth for us. We’ll be looking to take more staff on.”
Computer Recycling was established in 2017 by chief executive Patrick Moynahan, and Moore Markhams Auckland has been its trusted accounting partner since day one.
The company relies on Moore Markhams Auckland director Belinda Young and her team for sound advice on complex matters such as tax and cash flow planning, the tax implications of various decisions, and asset leasing and management, says Paul.
Belinda has been pro-active in ensuring the firm is working with the best information possible so it can make the smartest decisions.
“She has advised on how we can optimise the software we’re using. Without me asking, Belinda looked at the way we were doing our monthly reporting and suggested ways we could make it more readable and easier to extract.
“It’s exactly what I want from an accounting partner.”
The company will take “anything with a plug”, says Paul, with customers paying a fee to responsibly dispose of their electronics and appliances. Unwanted products are either refurbished and re-sold on Trade Me or dismantled for recycling.
About 80 percent of the products it processes comes from corporate clients, which include Vodafone, Deloitte and Samsung.
The firm also hires out e-waste bins and has a recycle box service – where customers can order a flat-pack box, fill it with e-waste and courier it back to the company for recycling.
Customers can also take advantage of a data removal service compliant with international standards.
E-waste items can be dropped off at Computer Recycling’s Penrose site in Auckland and partner sites in Hamilton and New Plymouth. Computer Recycling has also formed a partnership with Envirowaste, which allows the public to take unwanted electronics and appliances to Envirowaste transfer stations in Auckland, Cambridge, Hamilton and Tauranga, without paying additional charges.
The company runs e-waste drop-off days with community partners and takes monetary donations for Variety – The Children’s Charity.
Computer Recycling can now process up to two million kilograms of e-waste per year, diverting it from landfill where it could leach toxins into soil and waterways. New Zealand is estimated to produce about 98 million kgs of e-waste each year, so the scope for growth is substantial, Paul says.
Attitudes to e-waste disposal are changing. “Corporates now want to be able to tell their clients and customers that they are disposing of their e-waste in an ethical way.”
But there is still a way to go in educating consumers and corporates about Computer Recycling’s services and what happens when e-waste is not disposed of properly, Paul says.
The environmental gains are as important to the company as the financial benefits. “Patrick is absolutely passionate about the e-waste issue, and we are pushing the government to try and get a product stewardship scheme established, to ensure all e-waste is recycled.
“Obviously we would make more money from such a scheme but it’s bigger than that; it’s about doing some good too.”
www.computerrecycling.co.nz
Computer Recycling managing director Patrick Moynahan at the firm's new premises in Penrose.