The Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform (ANZRP) has a clear mission that commits us to work with our members to deliver best practice e-stewardship and triple bottom line solutions. We fulfil this, not only through collaboration with our members, but also by carefully selecting and working with our recycling partners. One of those partners is Electronic Recycling Australia, an Adelaide based electronic and electrical recycling operation that has been operating successfully for well over a decade. ANZRP has had a fruitful partnership with Electronic Recycling Australia since the inception of the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS) in 2012.
Who is Electronic Recycling Australia and what is their mission?
Electronic Recycling Australia is an organisation that leads the way in responsible electrical and electronic goods recycling. The organisation forms part of the Bedford Group of companies. Bedford exists to support people with disability to live the life they choose, and as a disability enterprise employs more than 1,000 people in catering and hospitality, packaging services, horticulture and grounds maintenance, landscape construction, furniture manufacturing, timber processing, cleaning, laundry processing, administration and mattress recycling, as well as e-waste processing. This makes them the second largest employer for people with disability in Australia.
Electronic Recycling Australia contributes to this mission by striving to deliver better environmental and social outcomes in the e-waste recycling sphere. This is achieved by maintaining sustainable best practice operations in an inclusive workplace where people and the environment are the priority. Specifically, Electronic Recycling Australia undertakes the following:
- Dismantling of e-waste, whereby products are stripped back to their original materials and components, such as metals, plastics and batteries.
- Directing these materials and components to specialised recyclers, so that they can be recycled or re-manufactured and retained in the circular economy; and
- Employing people with disability, so that they can develop their expertise and contribute their skills for individual benefit and the benefit of the community.
Fast facts about Electronic Recycling Australia and the ANZRP partnership
- The e-waste recycling business contributes to the employment of over 70 people, many of whom live with disability or other barriers to employment.
- Electronic Recycling Australia’s e-waste processing site is located in Ottoway, in metropolitan Adelaide. The site and its operations are compliant with the Collection, Storage, Transport and Treatment of End-of-Life Electrical and Electronic Equipment Standard (AS/NZS 5377) and in addition is also certified to the ISO standards 14001(Environmental Management Systems) and ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems) standards.
- In 2024/25, Electronic Recycling Australia processed more than 1.5 million kilograms on behalf of ANZRP.
- In financial year 2024 Electronic Recycling Australia attained a materials recovery rate of 90.96%, which means that it ensured that it recovered materials from the recycling process in a safe, scientific and environmentally sound manner and fulfilled the 90% target set under the NTCRS.
- Electronic Recycling Australia provides numerous services to the public, under its Unplug N’ Drop program, that meet the ‘reasonable access’ provisions of the NTCRS and enable householders and small businesses to dispose of unwanted televisions and computer equipment free of charge. Details of these services can be found at Unplug N’ Drop – Electronic Recycling Australia.
Electronic Recycling Australia has a dedicated team who provide secure data destruction services for laptops, hard drives, computers, printers, photocopiers, smart TV’s, tablets, mobile phones and other IOT (internet of things) or medical devices. Electronic Recycling Australia also give electronics a second life by refurbishing and then on-selling at an affordable price. You can view their online store here.
More information about Electronic Recycling Australia can be found at their website here.
