As we all enter uncharted territory locally and globally, we wanted to provide you with an update on how we’re continuing our e-waste collection and recycling service operationally, with the health and safety of our workers and partners a priority in all our decisions.
At this stage, it is business as usual for TechCollect, with some small changes. We are continuing to provide the service as best we can, considering variabilities across our supply chain and noting that circumstances are changing daily.
Our >250 collection sites currently remain open and are accepting e-waste. Should any site close we will endeavor to update you as soon as possible – however if you are considering dropping any material off, we recommend you contact the site to check they are still open, as we may not know straight away. Please also practice extra levels of precaution – wipe your items with disinfectant before dropping off, and if possible avoid giving your e-waste to a member of staff, and rather ask if you can place it directly in the collection bin. This may not always be possible, so be respectful of workers assisting you.
Currently, all of our recycling partners are operating as normal with some small changes implemented, ensuring all preventative measures possible are in place to protect the welfare of their staff. We have been in touch with them on a regular basis to confirm this, and for now all sites are continuing to process e-waste.
Our logistics providers helping transport e-waste from A to B are also operating as normal, again with some small changes to ensure best practice for the welfare of their staff. Couriers and drivers are not requesting signatures on PODs, rather opting for a name, reference number or even photographic evidence of delivery. For anyone interacting with these providers we ask that you accept and work with this, and any future changes implemented, recognising they are there to protect everyone.
For our collection partners, we ask that you advise TechCollect of any changes in your situation, such as opening hours, delivery/collection restrictions and contingency plans if required to close sites. Conversely, we will of course continue to update you on changes to our service.
Our office staff are now all working remotely from home, and we have moved all non-essential meetings to Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Should you need to contact us our phone lines are still operational, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Working from home is a new thing for many of us, so we’re working to stay connected through regular video calls, and have made our new Employee Assistance Program available to staff via phone, should they need it. There have been loads of resources circulating in the past few days about staying mentally and physically healthy when working from home, and we’re helping our staff to do this in their own way. We’ve also made sure all staff have an appropriate ergonomic set-up.
As we adapt to working from home, meanwhile our regular local small business suppliers of services like catering are taking a hit. We’re thinking of ways to continue to support our local businesses as we recognise they will be doing it tough over the next few weeks, if not months.
The circular economy and the industry in which we operate has really progressed in recent years, and we are committed to continuing to drive recycling and circularity during challenging circumstances. How we adapt will be crucial to ensuring we keep moving forwards, we keep e-waste out of landfills and we continue to protect our environment.