Cornish WEEE company set for nationwide expansion

The Electronic Waste Company is set to expand from its base in Redruth, Cornwall, by developing new facilities in Exeter, Telford and a joint venture site in Manchester.

Established in 2006, the firm specialises in handling equipment such as televisions, household appliances and refrigeration from organisations including councils and hospitals.

However, the forthcoming expansion follows its recent success in winning a contract which will see it provided with 13,000 tonnes of WEEE annually by a Europe-wide producer compliance scheme.

With the new sites set to be opened at the beginning of April, the company aims to refurbish the electrical goods it is provided with, or alternatively strip them for reuse.

Any products that cannot be reused or refurbished will be separated and recycling, in line with the firm's zero per cent landfill policy.

Damian Lambkin, managing director of The Electronic Waste Company, claimed that the expansion would allow the firm to serve some of the country's main industrial areas.

“Our expertise and capabilities are well-known in the South West,” he said. “Now, this significant expansion means we will be offering businesses in some of the UK's key industrial areas the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of disposing of end-of-life electronic equipment.”

Last year, the firm was recognised for its start-up success by the British Chambers of Commerce, as well as receiving a Cornwall Sustainability Award for its efforts in helping local business recycle.

Mr Lambkin argued that the upcoming expansion of the company was further proof that businesses across the UK were increasingly aware of the legal requirements for the disposal of their waste.

“Disposing of business waste in an environmentally friendly way used to be an option for companies,” he explained. “Now it's a legal requirement, and the rapid expansion of The Electronic Waste Company shows how quickly businesses are waking up to their responsibilities.”