The directive will require that redundant electrical equipment is re-used or recycled and not dumped. However, as reported by BBC News Magazine on 29 December*, there are concerns that without a clear national disposal network in place the equipment can not be disposed of environmentally.
The BBC report highlights the size of the problem with an estimated 200 million electrical items being cited as ending up in non-hazardous landfill sites per year. There is a perception that the waste industry is not ready to deal with the increase in demand for recycling which will now become a legal as well as an environmental and ethical issue. However, Maxitech.biz has been prepared since the end of 2003 with a number of socially responsible solutions to ease the burden for its UK customers.
“With the arrival of the WEEE Directive businesses have to consider the recycling of their IT equipment as part of their business strategy” commented Peter Paduh, managing director of Maxitech. “We can provide nationwide collections of IT and electronic equipment at a low cost. Maxitech can guarantee that the non re-usable equipment received is re-cycled to approved standards and by authorized specialists. We are also a social enterprise, providing training to local unemployed and unskilled youths.”
In a pilot programme over the past 2 years, Maxitech.biz found that a typical organisation can recover 5% of the initial cost of redundant IT equipment while meeting the requirements of WEEE. And one firm in three can actually generate a positive return from their recycling programme, delivering an unexpected boost to hard-pressed IT budgets.
Maxitech.biz also provides tracking reports to show exactly what happens to
the equipment collected. This can be achieved while still meeting the
requirements of the WEEE Directive and minimizing the financial impact of
compliance.
Maxitech.biz was set up with the support of London Remade and is now a self sustaining social enterprise providing re-use and recycling service of such equipment and passing it on, at low cost, to charities, start-up businesses and other groups that can benefit from this environmentally responsible scheme. This attractive option has already been taken up by a number of UK local authorities and several blue chip organizations.
Maxitech.biz has recently moved to larger premises in the London Borough of Haringey, due to the increasing demand for its services from clients across the UK.
To date, Maxitech.biz, has provided 20 unemployed people training and work-experience leading to formal qualifications, and employment. By 2007 it is projected that expansion will have created 122 new jobs and 200 training opportunities
Maxitech.biz Limited is a not-for-profit reuse and recycling organization dedicated to reuse and recycling of redundant IT and electronic equipment. Maxitech.biz are based in London but can provide nationwide collections of IT and electronic equipment at a low cost. Maxitech’s priority is to ensure that equipment received is re-used, thus prolonging their lifespan and reducing waste. We are also a social enterprise, providing training to local unemployed and unskilled youths. Maxitech is licensed by the Environment Agency Act as Waste Carrier and Broker.
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