PC recycling drives growth at Sims

Melbourne-based Sims Recycling Solutions has announced national expansion plans off the back of strong demand for its services.

The division of ASX-listed Sims Group has just opened Sydney offices and is about to launch in Brisbane as part of a push to grow its PC recycling business.

The move comes after the company — which claims a 97 percent recovery rate on materials — experienced double the anticipated demand for its services since launching in February last year.

This had been largely from growing consumer demand for environmentally-friendly PC disposal, said Victorian state manager Rick Wakelin.

“We did a recent survey and found that 43 percent of people were happy to part with $10 to $20,” he said. "They like the idea that they can take the PC somewhere and have it recycled.”

Joint industry and government programs such as the Victorian Government’s Byteback program — in which HP and Sims are partnering to recycling consumer and business PCs — had also raised awareness, Wakelin said.

“Most corporate and government tenders now have some sort of environmental disposal program clause,” he said. “They can also show government that they have an environmental plan before they are forced to have one.”

As a result the company was also on the partner recruitment path for companies who could offer PC recycling services as a value-add, Wakelin said.

“Someone like a Volante or Corporate Express is a prime example when selling to a corporate or individual to make a point of their environmental credentials thanks to our services,” he said. “The remarketing channel should also have a recycler backed onto it as typically 20 to 30 percent of their used PCs are beyond re-use.”

hardwaresimstim lohman