Buckinghamshire-based Shanks currently operates two facilities in Belgium which dismantle electrical equipment including computers and printers, telephones, televisions and domestic electrical recycling of the component parts. The company is one of Europe's largest independent waste management companies with more than 4,000 employees.
A spokesman for Shanks said today that such facilities could form a significant part of the changing industry requirements for recycling. “We are looking at a number of possible opportunities in the UK and are looking very seriously. We have a few ideas and are trying to put something together sooner rather than later,” he said.
Shanks electronic recycling features in the companies’ environmental report that has just been published. Lord Cranbrook, chairman of Shanks’ environmental advisory board praised the plant in Brussels. He said: “The board felt that the nature of the electronic recycling facilities would be the way forward as forthcoming EU legislation (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive) takes effect but would also encourage re-use before recycling.”
In its annual report, the advisory board concluded that the plants are easy to locate because they are not capital intensive and do not require sophisticated equipment. The Brussels plant, the first of its kind in the city, was seen as working well in conjunction with local municipality recycling initiatives. However the board noted that there was room for improvement and said that greater refurbishment of IT equipment for re-use would be beneficial.
The advisory board provides an independent assessment of Shank’s operations and provides advice to enhance performance and promote sustainable waste management practices.
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