Recycling service up for award

AN IT recycling service run by Perth College has been nominated for an award.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Centre, also known as WEEE, fixes up old, damaged and outdated machines.

Donated items including laptops, PCs, mobile phones and tablets are brought back to life and sold on. Anything that is not used can be recycled for parts.

Now the WEEE project has been named as a finalist i n this year’s Green Gown Awards, a scheme which recognises and rewards exceptional sustainability initiatives by universities and colleges.

The Perth College centre will fly the flag for Scotland in the employability category, up against schemes in Leeds, Nottingham, London and Wales.

Kate Sargent, Per th WEEE Centre coordinator, said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted and have the work we do and the benefits for the students recognised nationally. Our project aims to create opportunities for young people working in technology to gain experience of working in a sustainability role.”

She said: “Waste IT is collected by WEEE through various methods and computing students complete work experience, allowing them to build confidence in a work environment. Run as a non-profit enterprise, refurbished items are then sold on, with proceeds of sales feeding back into the student journey, such as funding for materials, student scholarships and field trips.”