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Extern-inate waste more uniquely

One of IMMPACT's direct frontline participants is Extern - a charity working with partners, providing high quality, innovative and community based services for people who have complex needs. The charitable organisation has recently launched it’s new social enterprise 'Extern Recycle' - a recycling project in partnership with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Council for the Homeless and Rehab Recycle, based in the Republic of Ireland has been in operation since December 2007 in its new factory in Mallusk. This new business will reduce the amount of electronic waste going into landfill sites while also offering a unique training scheme specifically aimed at getting homeless people into work.

Extern Recycle is the first Social Enterprise business of its kind in Northern Ireland to support homeless people into training and employment. The new 11,500 square foot state of the art facility based in Trench Road, Mallusk is licensed to process 25,000 tons of electrical and electronic equipment each year – making it potentially a major player in the field of recycling. The company is managed as a social economy business – all the money raised from this venture will be used to support other Extern’s charitable purposes.

Environmental concerns, storage, disposal and data security are some of the problems facing company’s that upgrade equipment frequently. Extern Recycle provides cost effective solutions which meets the highest security standards and at the same time provides high professional standards of customer care and service. As well as specialising in providing a full asset recovery service in electronic waste such as computer equipment Externs license also allows the recycling of a range of products including mobile phones, ink cartridges and fluorescent light bulbs aiming at decreasing the amount of waste in landfills sites.

The recycling industry is predicted to significantly develop over the next few years in Northern Ireland with the emergence of new recycling companies. The social economy aims to develop a trained workforce who will compete for jobs in this new developing industry. With low unemployment in Northern Ireland those who are unable to find work are often homeless people who have been unable to avail of training and employment opportunities. The business will support homeless individuals to become more economically active.

The company will work with around 100 homeless people per year attracted from hostels in the greater Belfast area. Individuals will be offered voluntary placements and as part of the attendance they will have the opportunity to achieve NVQ’s in Waste Management, store keeping and forklift driving etc. They will also receive essential basic skills and support in terms of literacy and numeracy training.

For more information about the new Extern Recycle business go to www.externrecycle.org or click on the Extern Recycle Flier (1.16Mb PDF).

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Leaders For Transformation
45-47 Donegall Street
Belfast
BT1 2FG
Phone: 028 90961111
Fax: 028 90961110
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Extern-inate waste more uniquely

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