“As one of Australia’s largest recyclers of electronic waste, working with SoFA will allow MRI to quickly identify and establish relationships with social firms who want to expand their activities to include e-waste recycling. MRI can provide turnkey solutions to social firms and guarantee minimum volumes,” Will says.

A social firm is one type of social enterprise and has the employment of people with a disability or mental illness as its purpose. The two key features of a social firm are that the majority of income is generated through the business activity and there is an integrated mix of employees with and without the mental illness or disability.

Caroline says the social firm workplace provides quality, sustainable employment opportunities for people with a mental illness or disability.

“Around one in five Australians experience some form of mental illness every year. Depending on the severity of symptoms and access to treatment, this can have significant and possibly lifelong effects on many areas of life, including employment. Twenty per cent of all Australians have a disability and many face unemployment despite wanting to be in the workforce,” Caroline says.

As a result of recent legislation importers and domestic manufacturers of televisions, computers, printers and computer products are now required to recycle e-waste. Under the Product Stewardship Act 2011, importers, manufacturers and distributors of electronics are required to subscribe to mandatory, co-regulatory or voluntary waste management schemes to recycle products when they reach the end of their useful life.

Australians bought 2.4 million new computers last year, sending 1.6 million old computers to landfill (and putting 800,000 into storage – alongside the 5.3 million already there).

The legislation is compulsory for all manufacturers and importers, and during 2012 companies have had to develop arrangements for the recycling of end of life products, or penalties may apply.

Under the regulations, television, computer and computer product importers and local manufacturers must pay to have their products recycled at end of life, through an approved arrangement scheme that enables third parties to collect and recycle waste television and computer products on the manufacturers’ behalf.

Working in conjunction with MRI an e-waste recycling company, Social Firms Australia (SoFA) are supporting not-for-profit organisations operating social firms that are equipped to recycle end of life products in conjunction with the new legislation. This a pioneering Australian first partnership which is likely to pave the way to reach social responsibility targets while doing business.

“By making arrangements with MRI, the social firms handle the recycling under this legislation. Not only are companies and local government meeting their requirements under the legislation, they are also making a huge difference in the lives of people with mental illness and disability,” Will says.