FAQ
Is your service really free?
Yes, our recycling services, including certification are all free to everyone. This includes households, businesses, schools and government.
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Do you pick up from homes, businesses, schools and religious groups?
We do pick up from homes, workplaces, schools and religious groups when they have a minimum of four items from our list below.
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Why do I need to have four items from your list?
As a free service and social enterprise, we need to cover the costs of fuel, tolls and people needed to collect from homes. Certain items can only be recycled fully as scrap and so would not cover those costs. Items on the list are more likely to be able to be reused and so can cover our expenses, enabling us to provide a free service.
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Why don't you have drop off bins or boxes?
Unmanned bins are unsecured and often people will take items from them. This means if you leave your laptop, phone or iPad/tablet anyone can take it and potentially access your data. As well, people drop food, dirty nappies and other such things in bins. This contaminates the load. Any item with data is kept secured from the moment we pick it up, ensuring your data is safely destroyed.
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Is my data safe if I can't erase my device?
Yes it is. We erase all data from devices that we can turn on and sign in to. Devices that can not be secured are fully broken down to protect the data.
For computers and laptops, when we can remove the hard drive, we use Active@KillDisk to erase drives to U.S. Department of Defense 5220-22M erasure and 20+ more international sanitising standards.
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How can you use my Apple device if it's locked?
It can't be used by anyone else if it's locked.
if you have deactivated the Find My (phone) feature, erased the device and removed it from your iCloud account, it will be just like a new device and can be reused.
If not, your data will be locked. The device will then only be used for parts or fully recycled to its base components.
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Do you provide certificates of destruction or erasure? What is your process?
Yes we do for businesses, schools, government or other professional organisations that require it and advise us prior to picking up. This service is free.​
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When booking a collection, let us know you need a certificate. Then, email an Excel spreadsheet of the serial numbers of your devices to be certified to support@whirlrecycling.com.
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We will initiate an audit process to track the movements of your devices from the moment they are picked up until the data erasure is complete and certified.
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Once completed, we will email you a certificate.
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What do and don't you pick up and recycle?
For homes we pick up items that are smaller than a microwave. For workplaces, we can also take servers, switches and technology items that are larger. This includes:
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Mobile phones; laptops; desktop computers; cameras; camera lenses and accessories; servers; switches; modems; tablets; iPads; iPods; iPhones; Android; computer games; Gameboys; Nintendos; Xbox; Playstations; tools; cords and cables; small kitchen appliances; massage guns; garden tools; turntables; DVD players; stereos; drones; computer keyboards; small to medium-size power tools; routers; hard drives; vintage mobile phones; vintage radios; receivers; amplifiers; motors.
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We do not recycle:
Fridges
Washing machines
Dryers
Dishwashers
Stoves
Ovens
TVs
Household Batteries
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. Please do not give them to us.
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 us at risk.
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Why do I need to clean my items?
As we collect and process everything by hand, we end up wearing whatever is on your device. While one device may seem like a small issue, multiple that by 100 and the dirt becomes a very big issue for our health and safety. We breathe in the dust and it ends up all over our clothes, van and locker. Simply wiping all items with a damp cloth makes a massive difference to us.
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Do you collect in regional areas?
For loads larger than a pallet, we may be able to help. If you are in a regional area and interested in discussing this further, email us at support@whirlrecycling.com
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Why do I need to leave my items on my front doorstep, on my property?
Legally, we are not allowed to leave items on the verge as it is illegal dumping.
But, also items will be subject to rain or dew, animals often urinate on them and bugs such as spiders and cockroaches crawl inside. As we collect items by hand and place them in our vans, we end up wearing whatever is on the device.
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As well, scavengers will either take the items or cut the cord, rendering them only fit for full recycling. If you have any items with personal data on them, there is no guarantee that the data won't be misused.
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How can we support Whirl?
Thank you for asking! We have a small crowdfund page we just set up - https://ko-fi.com/whirlrecycling. These contributions offset our fuel and toll costs and help keep our service free.
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​The best way to support us is by recycling with Whirl and/or setting up a community collection on your street, with your business or school.
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We are also looking for someone to sponsor a small van and office space. If you are interested, please contact us at: support@whirlrecycling.com
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What do you do with the items you pick up?
Through our network of restorers, collectors and local small businesses we find someone who will give your items a second life as they are.
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Why don't you call it e-waste?
E-waste is about throwing out a problem. Recycling is about respecting it as something of value and finding a way to give it another life. ​
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Do you repair electronics or appliances?
Unfortunately we don't. We do know people who do and so get the items we collect to the best person to restore it.
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Are you a not-for-profit or a charity?
We are a for-profit, social enterprise. The money we make enables us to keep our pick up and recycling service free for the community. All future profits will go towards expanding our services and keeping them free.
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Do you recycle everything?
Yes. Nothing goes to landfill.
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Do you operate in other locations besides Sydney?
We’re only based in Sydney, but, because we recycle small items, people in remote areas can mail them to us. We’ll send a postage paid label to make it as easy as possible.
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Can I drop stuff off at your warehouse?
Yes. All items must be boxed and labeled, "Whirl Recycling"
We are at Kennards Self-Storage,
25-29 Winbourne Rd, Brookvale.
Opening Hours are
Monday - Friday, 8:30 am–6:00 pm
Saturday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm
Sunday, 10:00 am–4:00 pm