What Happens To Them
The best possible route to an environmental solution is to extend a product’s life. In the western world mobile phones tend to be replaced every 18 months when the product life can be up to 10 years. Consumer Electronic items arriving at Reciproc8 are carefully assessed, logged and categorised for reuse, repair or recycling. An audit trial follows the unit to its ultimate destination.
Consumer Electronic items in good working order can make a big difference to the lives of people in developing countries and help to lessen the digital divide. Items not immediately suitable for reuse can be repaired and refurbished in plants and made available to new owners at a fraction of the original cost.
Even though exporting our recyclables means a bigger recycling loop because recyclable materials are transported further, it is still a better environmental option than using virgin, raw materials because it minimises the need to use natural resources such as oil.
Furthermore using recycled materials significantly reduces energy use and carbon emissions during the manufacturing process.The transport impacts are also reduced since the materials are transported in container ships returning to the Far East after bringing the goods to the UK. In 2007 778,000 containers arrived in the UK from China, 60% of these returned empty back to China. Items that cannot be reused are dismantled and the components recycled.