Collection of E-Waste for recycling
Throughout June this year we asked parishioners to bring to church anything with a plug, wire, battery or electronic component that they no longer used (whether it was working or not) for recycling. We asked for all things electrical and electronic including computers, mobile phones, game consoles, small kitchen appliances, electrical and electronic tools, chargers, cables and wires.
Success!!
The collection was an enormous success; we collected two tonne bags of waste including 33 mobile phones, 3 laptops, 2 tablets, 3 TVs, 1 electric organ, 1 vacuum cleaner, a box of power tools, a host of electric appliances and bags and bags full of wires.
We made a difference to people’s lives!
Everything we collected was taken to Aspire Community Enterprise Sheffield
Aspire is a social enterprise specialising in recycling computers, mobile phones and electrical equipment including wires and cables. They provide training and jobs and a supported working environment for vulnerable or marginalised people.
Aspire refurbish as much of the donated equipment as possible for re-use. They sell low cost computer equipment to schools, low income families, charities and start-up companies. Anything that can’t be refurbished is broken down into its component parts and recycled.
Data security of donated equipment:- All data is wiped in a secure data unit.
Quality assured. Everything that leaves Aspire is refurbished to a very high standard. The time spent stripping and rebuilding items, tests that are run and criteria that has to be met far exceeds what others in the industry deem acceptable. PCs are supplied with genuine Microsoft software obtained under the Microsoft Authorised Refurbisher programme.
Training and work placements are provided for vulnerable and excluded people in a supported environment by the friendly staff and volunteers. The trainees gain skills, qualifications, experience, and confidence.
We made a difference to the Environment. Here are some of the impacts we made:-
We prevented the E- waste from going to landfill where toxic materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants could seep into the soil and water, polluting ecosystems and posing a threat to plants, animals and human health.
We reduced waste:- Electronic and electrical goods contain precious metals and materials, such as gold, silver, copper, and plastic. The E-waste that we collected will be used to manufacture new products.
We reduced the need for the extraction of raw materials and the pollution and damage to the environment that it causes:- For example the environmental damage caused by gold mining can cause pollution of water sources with arsenic, lead, mercury, and cyanide, they can seep into the soil and endanger the health of nearby people and ecosystems. Making a single gold ring can generate more than 20 tons of waste!
We reduced deforestation and soil erosion. Mining of the precious metals needed for electrical and electronic goods causes deforestation and soil erosion: large areas of land are often cleared for mining operations, which destroys ecosystems and habitats.
We conserved the energy and minimised the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the production of new electronic devices. For example – gold mines emit an average of 0.85 tonnes of CO2 for every ounce of gold produced.
Bonus!!!!!!!
Our own lives were improved by getting rid of the clutter caused by all the stuff we were hoarding.
