Western Australia’s only licensed recycler boosts volumes, secures data, and drives circular economy gains.
Old photocopiers and printers do not just vanish at the end of their life. In Western Australia, they are handed to Total Green Recycling (TGR), the state’s only licensed e-waste recycler.
“Secure data destruction—hard drives are shredded, ensuring privacy and compliance,” says QPC Group, which partners with TGR to manage retired office devices. That security promise matters, with most modern MFPs holding sensitive data on internal drives.
Founded in 2008, the Perth-based company has grown into WA’s largest certified e-waste recycler. In 2018, it processed 2,356,000 kilogrammes of e-waste. By 2021, that had risen to 3,000,000 kilogrammes—an increase of more than 27%. The company now collaborates with councils, businesses, and multinationals to reduce the flow of e-waste to landfills.
The recycler claims a 95% landfill diversion rate. Through “meticulous sorting, asset recovery, and component reuse”, devices are stripped back into raw materials, refurbished parts, or responsibly processed waste. That level of diversion stands out in a sector where global averages are often far lower.
“Transformed—not trashed”
Globally, the picture is less positive. The UN’s latest Global E-waste Monitor shows 62 million tonnes of e-waste generated in 2022, with only 22% formally collected and recycled. Nearly 48 million tonnes were unmanaged. Against that backdrop, WA’s 95% diversion rate looks exceptional.
Location is also a factor. Perth is one of the most isolated major cities in the world, with the nearest Australian capital, Adelaide, more than 2,100 kilometres away. Shipping costs across such vast distances are high. For Western Australia, local recycling is not just a green choice but also an economic necessity. Moving e-waste east—or offshore—would be prohibitively expensive.
Accreditation is central. TGR says its processes align with ISO 14001 and Australian environmental standards, giving clients assurance that e-waste is processed locally rather than exported.
For office technology users, the message is simple: sustainability is no longer just about print volumes or paper reduction. End-of-life devices also carry responsibilities. “By partnering with them, we ensure our retired devices are transformed—not trashed—with security and sustainability intact,” says QPC Group.
TGR frames itself as a circular economy champion. Beyond recycling, the firm stresses education, community employment, and practical support for local government. Its asset management services recovered 54,000 items in just one year.
The scale of discarded copiers seen in recent collections—truckloads of devices stacked on pallets—illustrates the growing challenge. Each unit is a mix of plastics, metals, toner residues, and electronics that cannot be left to waste.
For the imaging sector, the example from Western Australia highlights two themes. First, data security: drives must be securely destroyed, not left unattended. Second, reuse and recovery: even in a small market, a local recycler can turn waste into resources and cut emissions.
E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams worldwide. With more than 80 million tonnes projected by 2030, initiatives like TGR’s show how local action can make a global difference.
