34 Circular Economy
It pays to Find a happy home for used kit As interest in the ecological and economic benefits of re-use rather than recycling gathers pace, David Lenehan, Managing Director at Northern Industrial, explains the options when it comes to disposing of old kit and how taking the right approach can provide financial income from old machinery that might otherwise have just been sent to the crusher.
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n July 2020, a statement issued jointly by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government confirmed the UK’s ongoing commitment to the EU’s Circular Economy Package (CEP), which introduces a revised legislative framework, identifying steps for the reduction of waste and establishing an ambitious and credible long-term path for waste management and recycling. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation defines a circular economy as looking beyond the current take-make-waste extractive industrial model. It says that a circular economy aims to redefine growth, focusing on positive society-wide benefits. It entails gradually decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources and designing waste out of the system. Underpinned by a transition to renewable energy sources, the Foundation says the circular model builds economic, natural, and social capital, based on three principles: 1. Design out waste and pollution 2. Keep products and materials in use 3. Regenerate natural systems With a clearer focus on item two above, it is possible to make a significant contribution to this global commitment whilst also maximising the overall investment efficiency of new and replacement assets by Quarter 1 2022
profiting from the ongoing use of used machinery and equipment that has become surplus to requirements. If we move to a focus on selling used equipment to extend its working life within the global economy, rather than recycling it simply for materials, industrial equipment users and repair professionals can contribute massively to worldwide environmental goals. The ability now to sell used kit to eager buyers worldwide provides a financial stimulus that goes beyond environmental altruism and can boost the economic efficiency of industry as a whole.
DISPOSAL OPTIONS When disposing of old kit, the options currently available are WEEE recycling, auctions, eBay, or selling to a reseller. All have their pros and cons, but some provide opportunities for cash returns, which can be used to offset the investment costs in new or replacement equipment, often with very little time commitment if you choose the right option.
Industrial equipment users and repair professionals can contribute massively to worldwide environmental goals.
WEEE RECYCLING The most common form of old kit disposal is to call in a WEEE recycling company. According to the WEEE Regulations, there are 14 main types of WEEE www.theaemt.com
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