While on holiday, tidying up my home workshop, and as an electronics enthusiast and maker, I needed to drop off some e-waste. On my way, I couldn’t help but reflect on how e-waste Drop-off sites were never really a thing before the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS). I’m reflecting on this because I was once involved in the industry, starting as a small business, where my expectations of what we would achieve were very different from what actually happened.
In 2007, I began a new social enterprise venture in electronics recycling. Today, we’d call it part of the circular economy. I had previously been involved in the electronics industry and was very aware of the growing e-waste problem everywhere. My organisation, at the time SA Group Enterprises, also needed to offer new employment opportunities for people coming over from businesses we acquired from Autism SA Inc. from their supported employment services. So, we started restructuring these businesses to our organisation – Aspitech, Worklink Enclave. We combined their packaging service into SA Wire Ware, our point-of-sale display stand manufacturing and contracting business.
We established Aspitech in a small office workshop on Main South Road and offered local businesses a responsible electronics collection service. Refurbishing computers and electronics for resale, if not repairable, removing parts for sale or making other things from the parts. Then, we would ensure that anything left was responsibly recycled. It was an excellent learning journey.
Due to the financial crisis of 2008, SA Wire Ware started struggling, losing orders, and many of its larger giftware industry customers experienced insolvency. We needed a new business venture and began exploring various operations. However, as Aspitech grew, we moved them to a warehouse next door to SA Wire Ware in 2010, where some of our employees could move between sites quickly.
2011 changed everything with the introduction of the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS). This meant we had to shift Aspitech’s service model or change business. Consequently, we hired a dedicated manager, and recycling boomed while the refurbishing side of the company took a back seat.
This brought about incredible change in the scale (from 1 ton to 250 tons per month) and how things were done. It also allowed us to employ many more people and integrate SA Wire Ware into Aspitech at a larger factory warehouse, offering more work opportunities and choices.
In 2013, we again began exploring other circular economy opportunities, as we saw so many sorted materials just being sent interstate for complete recycling. So, we began offering space and access to materials, establishing links with universities, industry and community groups to explore new opportunities for the tons of materials we were recovering.
Called The Sustainable Technology Space (STS). I still feel today that this was a lost opportunity not yet been explored. Sadly, in 2014, it never eventuated, as the new federal government had no interest in supporting or expanding NTCRS. This almost led to a nationwide industry collapse, with many companies closing their doors as feedstock dried up almost overnight.
Although I am no longer involved, I’m pleased to know this business still employs people today. It is now called Electronics Recycling Australia, and lucky for us all, we have convenient e-waste drop-off sites everywhere. Thank you, Bedford Group, for keeping it going. Andrew Wallace and Paul Marshall, for the incredible effort in making it happen.
Here is a summary of the History of SA Group Enterises Inc. 1986 – 2013