Stone crusher makes short work of recycling IT kit

THE STONE GROUP the UK's largest privately-owned computer manufacturer (apparently), has become the first UK IT manufacturer to operate its own on-site recycling facility,

The outfit invested  half a million quid in a great monstrosity of a machine that squishes old IT to bits and then sorts the bits into reusable materials and disposable junk. The move aims to give customers a way of disposing with redundant kit  in line with WEEE regulations. The facility went into action late last year after receiving its permit from the Environment Agency in November.

The separation and volume reduction plant is capable of crunching half a tonne of equipment an hour. The resulatnt scrap is reduced to pieces smaller than 30mm, before iron and precious metals are extracted. The plant was constructed in Germany and shipped to the UK on four vehicles before being assembled in a newly acquired facility.

James Bird, CEO of Stone Group, said: "As a responsible ICT manufacturer and supplier, Stone has an obligation to its customers and the environment to ensure it is compliant with the WEEE legislation."

The European Commission estimates that only a third of ‘waste, electrical and electronic equipment' (WEEE) is treated in accordance with legislation. It believes illegal shipping to non-EU countries remains widespread.

Bird added: "Nobody wants second-hand equipment from schools and hospitals turning up in unexpected places, and we can give our customers the assurance that will not happen."

You can watch the crusher in action here. µ