Ecycle Solutions, part of the QLS Group which specialises in the logistics, warehousing, and distribution of oversized electrical appliances across Australia, provides an affordable solution for end-of-life appliance collection and disposal, in collaboration with its recycling partner, Ewastec.

Ecycle Solutions has seen e-waste volume and turnover double since pre-Covid, partly due to the exit of two major recyclers, coupled with the Victorian e-waste landfill ban.

“Pandemic spending also had an upward impact on e-waste volume, though managing repeated lockdowns and restrictions proved quite challenging, often resulting in large peaks and troughs in material flow,” Ewastec managing director, Paul Boshell said.

“While the type of e-waste material, predominantly television, didn’t necessarily improve our bottom line, it provided more employment opportunities for our disability program. We have grown from employing four supported workers per day in 2015 to over 20 per day today.”

Ewastec primarily relies on low-skilled manual labour, and while its disability program fills most of these roles, there’s still a requirement for staff to operate forklifts, trucks, and other complex machinery.

“Post-Covid, during a period of rapid growth, finding these people was a significant challenge. Although this has improved over the last 12 months, it has created other employment-related financial challenges, in addition to increased costs, particularly with insurances and taxes,” Boshell said.

Ecycle Solutions is a fully compliant administrator of, the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS), which was established in 2011 to give Australian households and small businesses free access to industry-funded collection and recycling services for televisions and computers.

The scheme is designed to reduce waste to landfill, increase the recovery of reusable materials, and provide convenient access to recycling services throughout Australia.

While Ewastec recognises that its reliance on the NTCRS may be too significant – accounting for nearly 40% of overall revenue – it’s required to remain viable as most people still believe that recycling services should be free with low motivation to pay.

“There are very few e-waste materials that have value without relying on the NTCRS for added revenue. Televisions, as an example, could not be recycled without the funding and even with the scheme’s support, this type of material is a break-even scenario for our business at best,” Boshell said.

“If the costs involved in running the scheme are significant, or the ability to create revenue from liable parties is diminished, very little of the revenue reaches our business. It’s not significant enough to fund the recycling process itself.”

Adding a larger range of compliant items, such as small appliances, would help the business and provide social good and employment opportunities for the disability sector. The recycling of smaller appliances was scheduled to already be underway but there’s been delays from the government.

“This also requires a thorough understanding of the return value of these items, coupled with the associated challenges and costs involved in handling and processing. It would also require financial input from those creating the recycling need.”

However, the NTCRS enables Ewastec to provide ongoing employment for people with disabilities, which is core to its business.

“Without the NTCRS, our business would most likely cease to exist at the volume we are recycling. We would be forced to pick and choose materials with reasonable recycled value while imposing fees that most would be reluctant to pay,” Boshell said.

“As a business, we have chosen to focus on people and employment opportunities and not profits. We could significantly reduce our workforce and automate much of the recycling process and achieve greater financial returns, but this would be to the detriment of our local community and those who rely on low-skilled employment opportunities.

“While increasing our workforce in line with growth has impeded our ability to generate profit, we are committed to continuing to provide these employment opportunities, particularly to those who need it most.

“Our vision is to become a large-scale employer of people with disabilities, and we are committed to this process. We will continue to invest in the training and education of people to perform critical roles within our business. This will ensure we are a long-term operator in Australia and capable of overcoming the challenges of our industry.”

The partnership between Ecycle Solutions and Ewastec represents the power of collaboration in addressing pressing environmental issues while making a meaningful social impact. As the company grows and adapts to the evolving e-waste landscape, its dedication to supporting individuals with disabilities and contributing to the community will continue to be at the heart of its mission.

By advocating for sustainable recycling practices and expanding the scope of the NTCRS, Ewastec is not only ensuring its own future but also creating a more sustainable and inclusive society for all.