UK-based IT recycling outfit, Just Recycle IT, has launched in Australia. The company is a division of Circuit UK and specialises in the removal and disposal of redundant IT.

Founder and managing director, Gary Steele, cited a real opportunity in the local market because there was no legislation around recycling.

"I think the data protection and privacy laws are relatively lax [in Australia]," he said. "We have brought some of the European practices that we have implemented here."

As well as removing redundant IT equipment, the company can erase data and remarket devices. Just Recycle IT is looking to set up a presence in Brisbane, and will eventually expand into Sydney and Melbourne.

"We can take the old IT equipment, erase the data, upgrade and de-tag it. That takes out all of the customer sensitive information and the means of identification away from the item, which we can then resell through a number of avenues such as providing staff purchase schemes," Steele said. "We can provide a staff discount for the computers or sell them on the open market to maximise the value. Or we can offer the equipment as a charitable gesture."

Just Recycle IT also provided asset management and data protection facilities for corporate organisations to determine the best value they can get on the item by selling it at a certain date, he said.

"Once the data has been erased from the device, we can also redeploy it within the business," he said.

Any equipment that couldn't be resold would be recycled, Steele said.

Just Recycle IT partners with a number of organisations to complete the recycling process.

The company is finalising a partner program, where resellers can utilise its services and knowledge to provide the same practices.

"We can re-brand it in their name or leave it as ours. We can work on providing them with a commission, so they can make some margins on the services," Steele said. "We are also in the process of contacting some of the major manufacturers to help them with their buy back and recycling schemes."