e-waste Recycling Program

Learn about our e-waste recycling program Partnership with The Activ Group and PonyUp for Good.

What is emeals?

emeals is an exciting new collaboration between the team at Ecoactiv and the team at PonyUp for Good. It is the first program of its type - turning your old electronics into fresh meals from the comfort of your own home!

Who is Ecoactiv?

Ecoactiv combines technology and reverse logistics to offer consumers a better way to give their old items, new life and participate in enabling a circular economy.

The brand is part of The Activ Group, which is the largest independent supply chain and sustainability provider in Asia Pacific, focusing on full product lifecycle. The company works with brands, retailers, manufacturers and councils to design, implement and manage product stewardship and recovery solutions across all categories - from electronics to paint and more.

Who is SecondBite?

SecondBite is Australia's largest fresh food rescue charity, redistributing fresh surplus food donated by farmers, wholesalers, markets, supermarkets, caterers and events to more than 1400 community food programs on the frontline of food poverty around Australia. They started more than ten years ago and now have operations in every state and territory of Australia. Last year alone, SecondBite rescued 19.4 million kilograms of nutritious food. That's 38 million healthy meals for vulnerable people, including homeless, women and families in crisis centres, youth at risk, indigenous communities, asylum seekers and new arrivals to Australia. Throughout Australia, SecondBite currently feed upwards of 110,000 people every day of the week.

Who is PonyUp for Good?

PonyUp for Good is a social enterprise. We work with some of Australia's biggest businesses to turn retired technology into meals for people in need and have already diverted 170,000 kilos of technology from landfill and used its residual value to feed more than 350,000 people across Australia. The partnership with is the first program of its kind, which provides a public service to turn technology into meals for those in need.

How are JB HiFi and The Good Guys involved?

We are incredibly proud that JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys are the very first retail partners to come on board with the emeals program and they are offering this service to their customers to help them do the right thing with their old electronics. They recognise the important role business has to play in providing solutions which will have a positive impact on the environment and also in supporting those less fortunate in their community. They have set a HUGE TARGET of DONATING 1 MILLION MEALS TO SECONDBITE!

How big a problem is e-waste?

E-waste is growing up to three times faster than general municipal waste across Australia. It covers a range of items including televisions, desktops, laptops, printers and mobile phones. Globally the amount making its way to landfill is increasing each year and is expected to pass 52 million tonnes per year by 2021. Electronic waste is responsible for 70% of the toxic chemicals found in our landfills and waterways, such as lead, cadmium and mercury. So yep, we’d say it’s a super significant problem - and with this program, we are now collectively all part of the solution!

Why food waste? Why food rescue?

The Australian Government estimates food waste costs the Australian economy $20 billion each year. Currently, 5 million tonnes of food ends up as landfill, that’s enough to fill 8,400 Olympic sized swimming pools. When organic waste is dumped into landfill, it undergoes anaerobic decomposition (because of the lack of oxygen) and generates methane, which is 25 times more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Meanwhile, the latest figures reveal more than 5 million people in Australia experience food insecurity at least once in the course of a year. SecondBite exists to make sure that good food is getting to people who need it most, rather than to landfill. With Australia's recent bushfires and the COVID crisis, basic access to fresh food has become more important than ever before and impacts many people in every community.

Why can't I throw e-waste in the bin?

Putting e-waste into your rubbish bin or any other receptacle destined for landfill is illegal in both Victoria and South Australia and other states are working towards this ban too. Over 90% of e-waste can be recycled to reclaim precious metals including gold, silver, platinum, tin, copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc and aluminium. Once in landfill toxic chemicals including lead, mercury, cadmium, barium & lithium leach into our soil & waterways causing decades of damage. Besides, now there is an easy way to have it collected from your home and feed people in need at the same time - so why wouldn't you?

What items can I have collected from my house?

Ecoactiv offer a wide range of product recycling everything from electronics, to paint and furniture. As part of the initial launch period, you can have any item with plug, cord or batteries collected and recycled - many of them FREE OF CHARGE for a limited time. Please visit emeals for a full list of items you can have collected.

 

 

FAQs

<accordion-title>Will COVID-19 impact my collection?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>To keep staff, customers and the wider public safe, Ecoactiv have increased the safety of their service in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their collection service is still on-going, and their collection team are practising safe pickups, which means they will not be entering home premises and won’t make physical contact with customers. Simply tell them where you will leave your packaged items and they will collect, transport and process them.</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>What happens with the technology once it is collected?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>Your technology will be collected by a carrier who will deliver your items to an accredited recycling facility. The items will be shredded then separated into different commodities. From the Ecoactiv Digital Platform, you will be able to track your items in the timeline to see where they are in the journey. At the end of the booking process, you will also receive an impact statement which tells you the estimated amount of waste in kilograms you'll be diverting from landfill and the number of meals you'll be donating through SecondBite</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>How do I know the recyclers are reputable?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text> Ecoactiv prides itself of partnering with 100% on-shore recyclers. They undertake a rigorous assessment and auditing process with each recycler - from receipt of item to destruction and certification. All Ecoativ recycling providers are certified and comply with Australian and international standards (AS/NZS:5377 and ISO 14001:2015).</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>What information will I receive from my booking?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>At the end of your booking, you will receive two impact statements: 1) the amount of waste in kilograms you'll be diverting from landfill and 2) the number of meals you'll be donating through SecondBite.  At the end of the process. You'll also be emailed a confirmation with important packaging instructions and the connotes (labels) to stick on your packages.</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>Can I track my items?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>You can track where your items are in the recycling journey with an Ecoactiv account. Simply use the same email as your booking and create a password and log into the Ecoactiv Platform to track where your items.</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>How much does it cost?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>As part of our launch, we are offering FREE at home IT collections for a limited time. Items such as televisions, computers, laptops, monitors and keyboards can be recycled at no cost to the customer. Other items, such as white goods, appliances and batteries may incur a fee, depending on the weight, size and the requested collection method. The best way to see how much a booking may cost is to create a list on the Ecoactiv platform, enter in your address and select from the recycling options available.</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>Do I need to package up my items for collection?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>Yes, every item - big or small - needs to be packaged. Sending your old or unwanted items to be recycled is different from putting it out on the kerbside for landfill. It is important your item arrives at the recycler intact to maximise its recyclability. In addition, the OH&S of the people handling and transporting your items is a priority and the trucks that your items will be transported in are shared with other people’s parcels… not rubbish! You will receive instructions on how to separate and / or package your items through or after the booking process in an email. It is important that you read this carefully and follow the packaging and labelling instructions. Some items can share a box, while others must be separated because they're either going to go to different processing facilities or are hazardous in nature (e.g. batteries). For items that cannot fit in a box, such as a fridge or a TV, you will need to either shrink wrap multiple times so no sharp edges can puncture through. If you're uncertain of what to do following from reading the instructions, please email generalenquiries@ecoactiv.com.au and a customer service representative will guide you.</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>Do I need to put a label on it?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>Once a booking has been made - an email is sent directly to your nominated e-mail address to confirm the collection and provide you with a link to a ready to print label.</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>How many meals will be donated to SecondBite?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>Five meals will be donated to SecondBite for every collection booked - yes even the free collections will feed people in need!</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>How are the meals donated to SecondBite?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>There is a small donation built into the cost of the collection process that will enable SecondBite to feed 5 people in need. Where the collection is free this donation will be covered by the company sponsoring the cost of the collection.</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>Can businesses use the service?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>Yes - if you have a small collection of items which require recycling please go ahead and book a collection. However, if you have a larger collection of items or anything with your private company information on it, we can provide a business service which will help support your data risk mitigation strategy. Send us an email at enquiries@emeals.io and we will get back to you to chat about how we can best service your unique business requirements.</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>Do I have to be at home to have my items collected?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>We understand that it might not always be feasible for you to be at home for the collection. During the booking process you can either: 1. Nominate someone else as the point of contact; 2. Leave a note in the dedicated section specifying where you'll leave the packaged items; OR 3. Choose to change the pickup address to where you'll be (e.g. work).</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>What happens if I am not home when they come to collect my items?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>The collections team will either call the alternative contact you've nominated or refer to the note you've submitted through your booking process to locate your items at the given address. If you anticipate on not being at home for an attended pick up, please contact generalenquiries@ecoactiv.com.au to arrange another pickup date.</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>What about the data on my phone or computer?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>Your data is effectively destroyed during the shredding and recycling process and only raw materials and commodities remain after that.</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>What payment methods do you accept for collections?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>The Ecoactiv platform accepts Mastercard, Visa Card and PayPal. All payments through the Ecoactiv Platform are enabled through an integration with Braintree, which is a trusted and secure PayPal payment gateway solution.</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>I have a heap of stuff at home, how much can you take?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>There is no limit to how many items you can book for recycling, add as many available items to your list.</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>I'm moving house, can I book in a collection for a specific day?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>As part of the booking process, you can choose from a selection of available pick up dates. The standard pick up window is Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm.</accordion-text>

<accordion-title>How can I keep track of the amazing outcomes of this program?</accordion-title>

<accordion-text>You can follow regular updates through the JB Hi-Fi social channels as well as Ecoactiv and PonyUp for Good Facebook pages. Feel free to share our social posts and get your family and friends involved. The more people who choose emeals - the more waste we can divert from landfill and people we can feed.</accordion-text>

 

Contact PonyUp For Good

If the matter is urgent, you can contact the service desk directly on 1800 489 278 or email your enquiry to generalenquiries@ecoactiv.com.au