The three are Airedale Computer Recycling in Castleford, East Riding Training Services in Cottingham and Second Byte IT Ltd in Scunthorpe. The groups were supported in gaining accreditation on ICER's waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) scheme by Save Waste and Prosper (SWAP).
Under the WEEE Directive, separately collected WEEE must be managed by Approved Treatment Facilities (ATFs). ICER hopes that its accreditation scheme will form the basis for the ATF criteria for WEEE refurbishers and recyclers.
East Riding Training Services received the accreditation for its Refurbit project. The group recycles and refurbishes computers, reduces electronic waste and generates training opportunities within the community.
Second Byte IT Ltd is a social enterprise that provides ICT services and training for the benefit of the local community, business and organisations in Northern Lincolnshire.
Airedale Computer Recycling is a community organisation that collects donated computers from businesses for training of long-term unemployed people and for discounted re-sale.
Keith Sorrel, Airedale computers manager, explained: “We collect redundant computer equipment from businesses throughout the West Yorkshire area and local authorities. Then we refurbish what we can, selling the refurbished computers on for as little as 39, or giving them to local schools and charities.
“The materials that cannot be refurbished are broken down and sent away to be recycled, metal being sent to the local scrap yard, plastics onto a firm that make garden furniture, while the printed circuit boards are sent to a firm that extracts metals from them.”
And following the accreditation the company has begun making plans to move towards the future, Mr Sorrel said: “We currently in the middle of opening a new outlet store and constructing a new building on our current site as we are short of space, we are expanding rapidly and should continue to for some time.”
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