Scrap biz metal as anything
THE introduction of tighter controls to tidy up the scrap metal industry has been welcomed by Geelong ‘scrappie’ Jackie Matthews.
The Scrap Solutions owner said the law changes, designed as a crackdown on organised crime, would also help weed out the backyard players operating in the black economy.
As of last Saturday, anyone who deals in scrap metal must be a registered second-hand dealer, with the requirement following the banning of cash when buying or selling scrap metal introduced by the State Government in June.
“I see a real change in the industry,” Ms Matthews said. “You have to have a secondhand dealer licence to deal in scrap metal, which is great for people like us.”
The daughter of a Melbourne demolition and salvage expert, Ms Matthews has been running her own scrap metal collection service for about 18 months.
Initially Suburban Scrap Recycling Services was registered under her father’s business, Matthews Metals, but she rebranded to Scrap Solutions about six months ago.
“We needed to become our own entity and with that was a chance to change the name,” she said.
The business started with a focus on domestic scrap metal pick-ups but it has added a limited commercial operation and more recently a service for hairdressing salons.
She said there was demand for residential pick-ups of fridges, microwaves and washing machines but there was not the money in it that there was in the '90s, when the price for scrap metal was high.
“(The business) is growing, people love it, when I go to people’s houses they are rapt,” she said.
But Ms Matthews, who charges a fee for service, said a fridge might return less than $5 from a metal recycler.
“With the domestic, there’s not a lot of money but it was a way to present us to the community,” she said. “There really is a service needed for the community.”
Having established a foundation, Scrap Solutions is at a “tipping point” where it needs to get bigger to grow its commercial client base.
Ms Matthews said part of her role was educating people about the need to recycle metals and having a more sustainable approach to living, particularly in light of China closing the door on taking Australian waste.
“Eventually, if you don’t do something about your waste that you can recycle, that can be re-used, then you are going to be charged more to get rid of your rubbish,” Ms Matthews said. OPPORTUNITIES for technology and digital entrepreneurs to tackle the digital divide will be explored at a roundtable discussion to be held as part of the Geelong Innovation Festival on Wednesday.
Moderated by Technology Geelong, a panel including Infoxchange chief executive David Spriggs, Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood and Deakin expert Craig Warren will look at opportunities to improve digital access and affordability.
Technology Geelong chief executive Stephanie Beitzel described digital exclusion as a ticking time bomb.
“It is critical for all parts of the Geelong community to be able to participate in the digital economy,“Ms Beitzel said.
She said Technology Geelong was looking to deliver programs into the community.
The Digital Inclusion lunch and panel discussion is at the Geelong Library on Wednesday. The free event is open to community leaders, neighbourhood houses, job agencies, business owners, tech players and professionals committed to a clever, creative and inclusive city. Book via www.geelong innovationfestival.com.au.