Turing waste electronic know as WEEE into a valuable commodity is a big problem and solving this problem changes the economics of the recycling industry. Our focus is on end-of-life TVs and monitors known as flat panel displays or FPDs. Our vision is that every used flat screen becomes a valuable commodity rather than hazardous waste.
WEEE is the fastest growing and most hazardous waste on the planet. In 2021 alone there were 54 Million tonnes of WEEE with a value of $57 Billion. The majority of this was lost!
According to the UN, based on our current consumption rate, by 2050 we will need 3 planet earths to maintain our current standard of living, however our reliance on virgin material is also under threat. For example, the quality of copper in mining ore has dropped by 30% while the mining cost increasing 4-fold in just 16 years. Both indicators are classic signs of depletion. During the same period CRM (Critical Raw Materials) like Indium which is in FPDs has less than a 1% recycling rate.
The WEEE industry is only 23 years old and is a legacy of scrap metal recycling. Outdated equipment such as shredding does not align with a net zero and a sustainable future. Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and hitting the EU recycling targets of 85% needs real disruption. The lack of technology has led to an unsustainable industry with pain points including the loss of critical raw materials (CRM) along with Health, Safety and Environmental issues. The industry is looking for alternatives and is now ripe for disruption and innovation.
The solution, requires innovation to make WEEE recycling safe, profitable, and sustainable, using the best available technologies. Our overall objective is the disruption of the WEEE recycling industry using our unique technology (the Circular PRO) as a pay per use subscription model, minimising capital outlay for the recycler.
The Circular PRO™ ensures operator safety, makes recyclers more profitable and scalable, and the EU’s dependency on Critical raw materials is reduced. The key features of the Circular PRO™ are de-pollution of hazardous Mercury tubing from TVs and monitors; separation of plastic types; auditable certification of Carbon Credits, identification of components for reuse; and monetisation of data generated from the Circular PRO™.
