Victoria’s e-waste is projected to rise from 109,000 tonnes in 2015 to 256,000 tonnes by 2035. This growth suggests a significant opportunity to capture valuable materials for recovery and recycling and thereby reduce sending materials to landfill. These projections on growth will be supported by the Victorian’s governments decision to ban e-waste being sent to landfill from July 1st 2019.
E-waste is defined by Sustainability Victoria as anything with a plug or battery at the end of its useful life, and includes old mobile phones, computers and related equipment, audio devices, refrigerators and other white goods, hair driers, TV’s heaters and air conditioners.
Sustainability Victoria is funding a $16.5 million grant to support Victoria’s e-waste infrastructure development and awareness program to prepare for the landfill ban. The program includes:
- $15 million in grants to help Victorian councils and state government entities upgrade infrastructure to collect e-waste at more than 130 sites in both metropolitan and regional Victoria.
- A $1.5 million awareness campaign to educate Victorians about e-waste is, how it should be managed, and the environmental and economic benefits of reusing, donating, repairing or recycling it
The Victoria State Government has an objective that with its infrastructure upgrade, 98% of all Victorians will be within a 30-minute drive of an e-waste disposal point.
Currently only three-per-cent of Australian batteries are currently recovered. This recovery rate is believed to be the lowest rate in the OECD.
The opportunities to develop new technologies and new industries in the resource recovery area for valuable chemicals such as copper, steel, nickel, lithium other metals and grapheme are considerable.
Recycal, and its sister company, CMA Ecocycle, will continue to pursue national investment opportunities. With its pioneering work on mercury recycling it has the team and ‘skills set’ to deliver commercial relevant new technologies in both Australia and for the Asia Pacific region.
