Questions? Call or text us on:
Events and Hubs
Information Page
Thank you for supporting electronics recycling in your area!
We could not reach so many people and remain a free service without the commitment of people like yourself.
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This page is your resource centre. We'll continue to update it and make more resources available as we go along and learn what works and what doesn't.
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Contact:
Lisa Saunders
0412034931 (text is the fastest way)
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Style and Language Guide
Style and Language Guide
Web Pallette/Company Colours
FFCB64 – Creamy yellow
04BAB9 – Bright teal (logo)
FF9237 – Pumpkin
194DC6 – Bright dark blue
FF7705 – Dark Pumpkin
FF4242 – Cherry
51CDCD – Bright light aqua green
C1C1C1 – Light Gray
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Language and Context Guide
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We're very specific about the language we use.
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Please included the Whirl logo in any flyers or other media
(email Lisa for a png file)
Other colours available
Add a Title
Call it Electronics Recycling
Waste implies it's a problem to be thrown away in a bin or landfill. We say it's a valuable resource to be reused.
Add a Title
Keep it Light and Easy
We don't judge. People are doing the best they can and no one is perfect. Even if they don't really seem to care.
Add a Title
We Focus on Reuse
It is the most efficient form of recycling and has the lowest footprint. Even if it can't be reused, it won't go to landfill.
Items We do and Do Not Take
We focus on recycling small electronics for reuse where possible. They are smaller than a microwave and include:
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Mobile phones; laptops; desktop computers; servers; switches; hard drives; modems; tablets; cameras; camera lenses and accessories; computer games; Gameboys; Nintendos; Playstation; Xbox; iPads; iPods; iPhones; Android phones; graphics cards; tools; cords and cables; turntables; DVD players; stereos; drones; small to medium-size power tools; routers; vintage mobile phones; vintage radios; receivers; amplifiers; servers; switches; routers; Apple TV; Telstra TV.
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We also take the following items. We don't list them but people bring them anyway.
Blenders; toasters; hand mixers; coffee machines; grinders; electric motors; lamps; light fixtures; transformers; monitors; electric garden tools; computer keyboards; mice; and similar.
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We do not recycle:
Microwaves; printers; fridges; washing machines; dryers; dishwashers; stoves; ovens; TVs; lawnmowers; loose household or Lithium batteries (we can take the camera, laptop, mobile and other device batteries that come with the device); petrol, gas or other flammable-fueled machines.
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We do not take CRT (box) TVs.
Their screens are 40% lead and require specialised recycling. Companies that are part of the government TV recycling scheme can take them.
We do not take smoke alarms. They are radioactive, hazardous materials and a danger to you in large quantities.
While having them in your homes is fine, they become do contain a radioactive element and need specialised handling for recycling. We do not have the facilities to safely handle and recycle these items and so they put you and us at risk.
Scheduling and Promoting an Event
Email Lisa (lisa@whirlrecycling.com)
Let her know your desired date(s), location, address
Make sure you've scheduled a pick up date for after the event.
Speak to Lisa about the potential need for a large recycling bin (some events will be big)
She'll send a flyer (see below for the setup)
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Two to Three Weeks Out
Post, text, email
Facebook, Instagram, WhatsAp groups
Print flyers for local cafes and shops
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One Week Out
Remind network
Post, text, email
Facebook, Instagram, WhatsAp groups
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Two Days Out
Final reminders
Post, text, email
Facebook, Instagram, WhatsAp groups
Event Logistics and Kit
We'll either drop a kit off, or if you are able to get to a nearby Bunnings, we'll order the kit for you to pick up.
Each event needs a kit of items to collect the electronics. We're not accepting boxes anymore.
There's a few reasons why:
- People often leave items in the boxes that we can't take or recycle.
- Boxes sometimes have bugs, bug waste, food, etc.
- We're overwhelmed with boxes and plastic bags daily.
- We're not cardboard or plastic recyclers.
- We have to transport or pay to recycle the boxes and bags.
- Our vans have a 30% increased capacity without boxes.
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This document itemises all electronics we collect and where they end up. It serves as a guide to how you collect and sort items. If your event is not large enough to have a recycling bin, you can put the items in a Gorilla bag.
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Square rubber buckets - 10 large, 2 small
20 Old Clamps (or clips, cut from jumper cables, etc)
4 Small Nylon Crates - no lid
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2 Gorilla Bags
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4 Milk Crates
(Old ones for resuse)
Cardboard Boxes to
Cut into signs
Collecting Items
If you're unsure what to do with an item or whether to cut the cord off, put it aside for us with the cord intact.
To Go into Large Buckets:
- Cables/Wires (move into Gorilla bags as they fill the bucket)
- Branded Laptop Chargers (Lenovo, HP, Compaq, Toshiba, Apple, Acer, Asus)
- Computers Games
- Calculators, Telstra TV box, Apple TV box, Electric Toothbrush chargers
- Plug in WiFi Boosters
- Anything small that looks interesting or is new in a package
- Computer Games
- Cameras, Camera lenses, Camera chargers, Accessories - Anything Camera related
- Unbranded laptop chargers, printer chargers, general chargers (anything SONY, Microsoft, Nintendo, XBox chargers or cables put with the games)
Small buckets
- Mobiles, iPods, eReaders
- RAM Sticks, CPU, Circuit Boards
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In Nylon or Milk Crates
- Laptops
- Computer Game Consoles and peripherals (including chargers and cords)
- Sega, Nintendo, Wii, Sony, Microsoft labeled chargers
- Hard Drives
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Gorilla Bag
- Cords, cables, Unbranded charger cords (cut box off and put in with mixed recycling below)
- Cords cut from items going into recycling bin/Gorilla bag
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Recycling Bin/Gorilla Bag (cut the cord and set aside)
Blenders; toasters; hand mixers; coffee machines; grinders; electric motors; lamps; light fixtures; transformers; monitors; electric garden tools; computer keyboards; mice; charger power packs (if they get through as they are mainly a battery and we prefer not to take them)
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We ask people to empty their boxes and put their own items in the buckets and crates. If it gets too hectic and stuff ends up mixed together, don't worry. We can sort it all out. The main thing is to eliminate plastic boxes and bags, and cardboard boxes and to make sure they aren't just dumping stuff we can't take.
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Really important to ensure people do not just drop a box and bag or leave. They often have things like smoke detectors, batteries, even bugs and bug poo in their packages. The people who are more likely to try to drop and run are the ones with that stuff!
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If someone tells you they have to rush, just nod and ask them again to empty their box/bag. Tell them we can't accept it as is and it has to be emptied.
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We avoid cutting cables in front of people. They have an emotional reaction as often they have an attachment to their items and want them to be reused. This is even the 40-year old, rusted out and totally broken item! We always treat items with respect for their emotions.
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Grief Counseling
People often are giving us items that meant something to them. They worry about what will happen to it or want to make sure it's reused. Even fully broken items. I'm always straight about what will happen to is and then gentle if their emotions are strong. I'll say something like, "We can't always reuse items, but we do ensure they stay out of landfill and find a new life in some form." That seems to help.
Financials
Financial Split
As an events partner, you will receive 50% of the profits from items sold for resale and all wires/cables recycled.
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Any metal and electronics scrap that we transport usually barely covers the costs, if at all. We keep that to offset tolls, fuel, van rental.
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If a recycling bin is dropped on site and you fill it, all proceeds will go back to you. The account still sits with us, because we are one of their largest customers and so are paid better rates for items and will be prioritised for bin drops.
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Understanding the Financials of Recycling
Aside from being the most efficient form of recycling, with the least footprint, reuse is also the most financially viable form of electronics recycling. The reality is that scrapping items pays anywhere from 18 cents to three dollars a kilo. So, a van load of electronics scrap going to the metal recycler will net about $40 - $120 tops.
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That same van load of items for reuse can net anywhere from $1000 on up. Which is why we focus on a mix - the items for reuse pay for the transport of the items for scrap. We learned this the hard way at Arnies. A van load of large appliances never even paid for the driver, fuel and tolls to pick up and deliver it.
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We are also trialing dropping recycling bins at events. This saves us the cost of transport and delivers $100-$200 back to you directly.
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Household Appliances
18 cents a kilo
Computer Scrap
20 cents - $1.90 a kilo
Electronics for reused
$1 - $500 per item