Clipsal organises recycling trial for electricians

A recycling trial in Queensland is giving electricians an accessible way to dispose of common electrical waste.

Organised by Clipsal and delivered in partnership with recycling enterprise TerraCycle, the pilot program involves separate recycling bins for assembled electrical products (such as switches and power points), switch and socket skins, and battery-operated photoelectric smoke alarms. These bins are located at participating CNW Electrical branches, allowing electricians to drop off eligible waste during their regular wholesaler visits.

“Electricians regularly remove switches, sockets, smoke alarms and other electrical products from homes and commercial sites, but the correct disposal pathway is not always obvious,” said Clipsal CEO Chris Kerr.

“By placing dedicated bins at wholesalers, we are putting the recycling option somewhere electricians already visit as part of their working day.”

TerraCycle is responsible for providing and servicing the recycling bins, collecting returned products, transporting the material for sorting into separate waste streams and then recycling it into raw materials that manufacturers use to make new products.

The pilot will allow Clipsal, CNW Electrical and TerraCycle to assess how the collection recycling model works in practice, including the types and volumes of products returned.

Participating CNW branches will have three dedicated recycling boxes accepting the following:

• Assembled electrical products (eg, switches, power points, dimmers and sensors)
• Switch and socket skins
• Battery-operated smoke alarms (excluding ionisation and radioactive types)
   

“This trial will give us a clearer picture of how electricians use the service and what is needed to make electrical waste collection work at a larger scale,” Kerr said.

“Improving e-waste recycling requires practical action across the industry, from manufacturers and wholesalers through to the electricians handling products at the end of their working life.”

The trial is part of Clipsal’s new sustainability program, named ‘Better Together’, which recognises that manufacturers, wholesalers, electricians, builders and designers each have a role in improving sustainability across the electrical industry.

Combining Schneider Electric’s wider sustainability experience with Clipsal’s knowledge of the Australian residential and light-commercial electrical market, the e-waste recycling program pilot commenced on 17 August.

To learn more about sustainability at Clipsal and for a list of participating CNW Electrical branches, visit: clipsal.com/sustainability.

Image credit: iStock.com/welcomia