Following the successful launch of Wincanton's WEEE recycling facility earlier this year - the first of its kind in the UK - Wincanton has completed a three-month trial with Argos to recycle the retailer's electrical and electronic returns.
In the trial, Wincanton managed Argos's returned electrical and electronic goods, and achieved recycling rates of more than 95% from the products treated at its WEEE recycling plant in Billingham, Middlesbrough.
Items handled in the trial ranged from alarm clocks and DVD players, to lawnmowers and microwaves. Valuable materials including metals, plastics and circuit boards, were extracted from the process and separated for use in the manufacture of new electrical and electronic devices.
For Wincanton, the trial highlighted the requirements for recycling the outer packaging, leading to additional investment on site into packaging recycling technology.
According to Wincanton’s commercial manager Simon Hill, the Argos trial enabled Wincanton to test the Billingham plant and demonstrate its capability, whilst providing a crucial insight into the material breakdown and recovery rate.
Argos project manager Mark Jones commented: “The partnership with Wincanton has been extremely useful in ascertaining the processes we need to have in place when legislation is introduced next year.”
