Not-for-profit producer responsibility organisation (PRO) Circular Energy has partnered with independently owned appliance and electronics outlet Hirsch’s Homestores, to assist customers in ethically disposing of their end-of-use appliances.

Circular Energy says this partnership underscores the critical role it plays in ensuring effective waste management and environmental stewardship.

As a PRO, Circular Energy is approved and registered with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment to operate a nationwide take-back system for the collection, recycling and environmentally sound processing of a variety of products, including electrical and electronic equipment.

By collaborating with Hirsch's, Circular Energy says it is able to expand its impact, ensuring that hazardous materials are handled safely and valuable resources are recovered for reuse in secondary markets.

“Once the appliance is collected from Hirsch’s, it is transported to the recycling hub where it is treated with state-of-the-art recycling technology. Here, the various components are separated and recovered as raw materials from the appliance,” says Circular Energy CEO Patricia Schröder.

The company says these appliances are recycled using environmentally sound practices, with all materials recovered tracked and traced.

This results in every component, or material, from various appliances being recovered and brought back to a raw material form so that it can contribute to secondary resources.

This advanced recycling process allows for these components to be reused and minimises resource wastage, reducing landfill waste and mitigating the environmental impact of hazardous substances.

“In the case of refrigeration equipment and the outer casing, which often ends up in a landfill and is illegal to dispose of in this manner, the polyurethane insulation material (PUI) that acts as an insulator for temperature regulation on the interior of the refrigerator is safely separated,” explains Schröder.

Circular Energy explains that PUI is an oil adsorbent and is applied in an oil adsorbent process used in alternative energy generation for cement kiln firing.

It points out that, incidentally, a newly developed PUI foam that is fully recyclable was recently launched by chemicals company BASF, a Circular Energy member.

The metal recovered from the casing after the PUI that is safely removed is also recycled in local smelters where new steel is made. By converting waste into valuable resources,  Circular Energy says this initiative supports the circular economy and drives innovation in recycling technologies.

“With regard to the refrigerant compressors on appliances, the oil is drained from the compressor, safely collected and sent to used-oil recyclers. If there is still refrigerant gas left in the appliance, this is recovered and sent to a gas supplier that scrubs the gas to be cleaned for reuse,” adds Schröder.

This process ensures that harmful chemicals and other substances do not pollute the environment, thereby enhancing the sustainability of waste management practices.

Hirsch’s CEO Richard Hirsch explains that customers can now bring their old products to Hirsch’s branches around the country where designated areas have been set aside beside the dispatch departments for items to be collected for recycling.

“Hirsch’s is excited to have partnered with Circular Energy to help keep the environment free from end-of-use items. When our clients come through to buy new products from us, they can rest assured that their old products will be recycled ethically, in an environmentally sound manner, thus avoiding the problem of landfills overflowing with harmful waste,” he says.

Circular Energy says this partnership highlights the critical role that retailers and PROs play in ensuring effective waste management.

By working together, they provide a convenient solution for consumers to dispose of their old appliances and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable environment.

The company says this collaboration also fosters community awareness and encourages responsible consumer behaviour, reinforcing the importance of environmental stewardship.

It encourages anyone who is unsure of where to take their appliances, and household batteries for recycling, to ask a store manager for advice on drop-off locations. Circular Energy also offers household collections, which can be requested through its website.

Hirsch’s also provides a service where, upon delivery of new appliances, they will take old appliances and dispose of them in the relevant drop-off locations for the customer.

To promote the adoption of circular practices in various sectors, Circular Energy is hosting a conference on June 13 themed ‘enabling circular transition’.