Producer Responsibility Organisation Circular Energy NPC has partnered with Woolworths to manage the retailer’s dedicated in-store hazardous waste recycling containers and bring a new dimension to e-waste management.
 
Along with other companies that manufacture and import electrical, electronic, and lighting goods for sale, Woolworths is a member of Circular Energy, in accordance with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations promulgated by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. As an EPR-compliant member, Woolworths has committed to proper recycling and responsible management of products after use.

While Woolworths has been offering e-waste collection points for portable batteries and CFL lamps for some time, this integration with Circular Energy represents a significant advancement in responsible waste disposal.

Patricia Schröder, spokesperson for Circular Energy said, “The aim behind this collaboration is to make the process of disposing household portable batteries and lighting lamps not only easier, but also more environmentally-friendly and legally sound, encouraging greater participation in responsible e-waste recycling.”
 
“As part of our Good Business Journey and commitment to environmentally responsible practices, we have for many years provided specially designed in-store disposal bins for our customers. This way we encourage our customers to dispose of their hazardous waste items like redundant energy-saving light bulbs and batteries responsibly.  Our partnership with Circular Energy will reenergise this service and encourage our customers to continue partnering with us to make a positive impact on the environment and our communities,” says Feroz Koor, Woolworths Group Head of Sustainability.
 
See the list of Woolworths stores offering dedicated battery and CFL disposal containers: https://circular-energy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Woolworths-Bin-Locations-2023.pdf

ENDS
 
MEDIA CONTACT: Rosa-Mari Le Roux , 060 995 6277, rosa-mari@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za 
 
For more information on Circular Energy please visit:
Website: https://www.circular-energy.org/  
LinkedIn: Circular Energ

The UN describes e-waste as any discarded products that “have a battery or plug, and contain hazardous and toxic materials that can endanger both human and environmental health”.
 
Yet according to Patricia Schröder, spokesperson for the producer responsibility organisation (PRO) Circular Energy, e-recycling is not a priority for South Africans -  despite the fact that about 95% of e-waste can actually be recycled, reclaimed, or treated and beneficiated.
 
“For instance, only 10 to 12% of waste electrical and electronic equipment and between 2.5% and 5% of waste lighting are recycled. This is extremely low,” she cautions. “Given that e-waste includes toxic substances, its effective material recovery and environmentally sound recycling are crucial - and our local service providers, including formal and informal recyclers, have a massive role to play to improve the situation.” 
 
The Problem: An e-Pollution Crisis
Schröder explains that e-waste that is not correctly managed, including that that is disposed of in landfills, can release harmful pollutants.
 
“These toxic materials, especially heavy metals like mercury and cadmium, can harm ecosystems, accumulate in food chains, and have immediate and very noticeable negative impacts on human health.”
 
Furthermore, Schröder says, by not recycling or reusing e-waste, new natural resources must be mined in order to produce electronics. This as opposed to recouping what is already available in the market.
 
The Solution: Sound Waste Management
Due to its toxic and hazardous components, electronic waste can no longer be disposed of in landfills as of 2021. Instead, it must be treated by an authorised company that recycles waste electrical and electronic equipment (widely known as WEEE or e-waste).

This should be done by following sound e-waste recycling principles -  the process of extracting valuable materials after shredding the e-waste into smaller fractions that could be reused in a new electronic appliance.
 
“The government is attempting to address environmental pollution by banning the disposal of WEEE and batteries - and these authorised facilities are equipped with the know-how and tools needed to securely dispose of e-waste and recover recyclable materials,” Schröder explains.
 
She goes on to caution service providers not to fall for the tricks of illegal, unlicensed dealers or businesses that buy the items at very cheap rates and claim to recycle them when the remainder is then actually illegally dumped with other waste.
 
The Added Benefit: Financial Gain
Schröder says service providers should not forget that effective e-waste management can also have financial advantages.
 
“Materials like gold, copper, glass, aluminum, lithium, plastic, and more can be recovered in this manner. One international study estimated that in 2016, the raw material value of e-waste was around 55 billion euros.  Additionally, by recycling these materials back into the supply chain for the creation of new products, the manufacturing of new electronics is becoming more environmentally friendly. This releases fewer hazardous materials into the environment, and is generally more sustainable.”
 
She adds that there is also a significant social and economic impact, with recycling and reuse accounting for thousands of jobs.
 
“Of course, e-waste is only a portion of that, but as it is also the waste stream with the fastest growth rate, it is likely to become much more significant as our reliance on digital devices increases.”
 
ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Rosa-Mari Le Roux, 060 995 6277, rosa-mari@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za 
 
For more information on Circular Energy please visit:
Website: https://www.circular-energy.org/  
LinkedIn: Circular Energy

Every year on October 14, International E-Waste Day is observed.
 
This year, the major focus is those little electrical devices that we no longer use, but store in cabinets and drawers - or often simply throw in the regular trash.
 
According to Patricia Schröder, spokesperson for the producer responsibility organisation (PRO) Circular Energy NPC, recycling products in the correct way is much more important than most technology users realize.
 
Damage of e-waste is substantial
“The damage these seemingly small, obsolete electrical and electronic appliances can cause is considerable. According to UN estimates, about 22 million tonnes of tiny e-waste were produced globally in 2019. This amounts to 40% of the total of all electronic garbage generated worldwide,” she cautions.
 
“Items like cell phones, electric toothbrushes, toasters, and cameras count amongst the e-waste most frequently disposed of incorrectly - ending up in rubbish bins and eventually landfilled. This prevents the extraction of the valuable raw elements they contain, which is then lost.”
 
This while a much better solution is available: E-waste recycling! This is the process of extracting valuable materials after shredding the e-waste into small fractions that could be reused in a new electronic appliance.
 
Schröder adds that the average user discards more than 1 kg of e-waste every year.  "And much more than that is lying around in our homes, abandoned and forgotten, when it could be recycled successfully."
 
Take-back programs make responsible recycling easy
Schröder says despite the fact that proper end-of-life options is actually relatively easy, many individuals feel overwhelmed and end up throwing their e-waste in the regular trash.
 
“This is where PRO’s and our e-waste-focused take-back schemes can be of great assistance,” she explains. “Companies like Circular Energy that manage the collection of e-waste are constantly working to make the proper disposal simple and convenient for consumers.”
 
Such a take-back system focuses on the collection, recycling, and environmentally sound processing of waste electrical and electronic equipment, (WEEE), Lighting and Lighting and lighting Equipment, Batteries and Packaging.
 
Schröder suggests that communities and schools can get involved by encouraging pupils and citizens to collect and hand over as much e-waste as they can find on their homes on this day.
 
“Circular Energy NPC will gladly assist with your take-back process to ensure it is recycled in the most environmentally friendly way possible.
 
“Kids can even make it a fun treasure hunt by going through their homes, looking for appropriate items,” she says.
 
Small e-waste includes items like batteries, cords, computer mice, cellphones, electric toothbrushes. And the larger items are computers, monitors, keyboards, scanners, printers and televisions, amongst others.
 
“Tackling the e-waste issue as a community and committing to a take-back program, makes responsible recycling fun,” Schröder concludes. “This all whilst putting the ‘more difficult’ work in the hands of the e-waste experts.”
 
ENDS
 
MEDIA CONTACT: Rosa-Mari Le Roux , 060 995 6277, rosa-mari@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za 
 
For more information on Circular Energy please visit:
Website: https://www.circular-energy.org/ 
LinkedIn: Circular Energy