Sims Grows E-Scrap Business in Australia

Australian-based company looks to grow its Recycling Solutions division.

Sims Recycling Solutions, a division of Sims Group, has announced national expansion plans for its electronics recycling program. The decision follows strong demand for the services in Australia.

 

Sims Group just opened Sydney offices and is set to open another facility in Brisbane, Australia, as part of a push to grow its PC recycling business.

 

The move comes after the company — which claims a 97 percent recovery rate on materials — experienced double the anticipated demand for its services since launching in February last year.

 

This had been off the back growing consumer demand for environmentally-friendly PC disposal, said Victorian state manager Rick Wakelin.

 

“We did a recent survey we did found that 43 percent of people were happy to part with $10 to $20,” he said. "They like the idea that they can take the PC somewhere and have it recycled.”

 

Joint industry and government programs such as the Victorian Government’s Byteback program — in which HP and Sims are partnering to recycling consumer and business PCs — had also raised awareness, Wakelin said.

 

“Most corporate and government tenders now have some sort of environmental disposal program clause,” he said. “They can also show government that they have an environmental plan before they are forced to have one.”

 

As a result the company was also on the partner recruitment path for companies who could offer PC recycling services as a value-add, Wakelin said.

 

“Someone like a Volante or Corporate Express is a prime example when selling to a corporate or individual to make a point of their environmental credentials thanks to our services,” he said. “The remarketing channel should also have a recycler backed onto it as typically 20 to 30 percent of their used PCs are beyond re-use.”