Australian perspective: IT asset management, e-waste recycling and the national television and computer recycling scheme

9^th World Convention on Waste Recycling and Reuse

March 11-12, 2019 Singapore

Michael Coghill

Total Green Recycling, Australia

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Adv Recycling Waste Manag

Abstract :

Australia is an early adopter of new technologies and also enjoys very high rates of consumption/capita ranking among the highest rates of consumption per capita on a global basis. In 2008 when we started our company, total green recycling, from inside our fatherâ??s garage, average e-waste generation was only 7 Kg per capita per year. 10 years later we have established a leading organization in Western Australia to employ over 40 staff and processing over 2,500 T of e-waste per year and provide EoL solutions for over 20,000 IT assets annually. We are pleased to share our experiences and how we overcame the challenges we have faced so that others can draw inspiration to solve the problems of today with the same courage and conviction that was required of us to develop a comprehensive solution for our local e-waste problems. Key problems that were overcome include developing recycling solutions for WEEE plastic, CRT (leaded) glass, wood and timbers, PCB's and precious metal recovery, batteries, ink and toner cartridges and scrap metal. Australia is a very diverse and sparse geography which brings with it high transportation costs which pose their own challenges to the economic and profit drivers for e-waste management. A summary and coverage of the Australian product stewardship legislation introduced into Australia in 2011 which came into effect and gave rise to Australia's National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS). Today the NTCRS provides for and manages over 50,000 tons of e-waste recycling in Australia on an annual basis. Coverage of the strengths and weaknesses of this scheme is provided as well as recommendations for improving e-waste recycling and e-waste management in the future.

Biography :

Michael Coghill is the Co-Founder and Director of Total Green Recycling, Australia. He has completed his Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Western Australia. He is also a Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors.

E-mail: michael@totalgreenrecycling.com.au