Two Cambridge community organisations have combined forces to keep more e-waste away from landfills.
Partnership sealed, from left Mandy Higgins, Mathew Jennings, Shelby Mcclelland, Mark Hanlon and Ricky Robson. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Urban Miners and Achievement House, both not-for-profit organisations, recognised a mutual opportunity to achieve their shared goal.
Starting this week, Achievement House, which employs individuals with intellectual or learning disabilities, autism, or similar neurodiversities, will accept e-waste at its Wilson Street location on behalf of Urban Miners.
Despite Urban Miners’ success since its first e-waste collection in Cambridge nearly five years ago, chair Mark Hanlon believes they have only begun to address the issue.
Urban Miners hard at work. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
“We just think there’s a lot more volume out there – we’re well below five per cent we believe,” he said.
To boost collection volumes, they realised the need to transition from a fully volunteer-based model and monthly collections at Cambridge High School.
Hence the partnership with Achievement House with its central location and five days a week availability.
“It’s beneficial for both organisations, us to hopefully increase our e-waste volume and for Achievement House as another workstream,” said Hanlon.
The Sunday collections every month will continue.
Inside the Achievement House, from left supervisor Bud Burrows, programme supervisor Shelby McClelland and interim manager Karen Scott.
Achievement House interim manager Karen Scott says she has a passion for developing strong relationships with peers as a key to forging new partnerships to get better outcomes for staff.
“We welcome employment opportunities like this,” she said.
Batteries of all types will be accepted as part of the e-waste.
Urban Miners will continue to operate a workshop where e-waste, excluding whiteware such as washing machines and fridges, is dismantled.
Day programme supervisor Shelby Mcclelland said her staff will learn new skills such as welcoming the public, putting payment through Eftpos machines and providing more information.
They would be able to remove plugs, cords and batteries from e-waste as part of their work programme.
“Round here, if we’re doing a job, we’re doing it properly,” she said of the 20 plus people working at Achievement House including Andrew Atkinson who has already been volunteering at Urban Miners.
“We’re all about teaching people new skills and us being community minded and looking for increased employment opportunities, this was perfect,” said Scott.
“It’s a really exciting partnership.”
Partnership sealed, from left Mathew Jennings, Shelby Mcclelland, Mandy Higgins, Mark Hanlon and Ricky Robson. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
