Green technology group Sircel launches Australia’s first printed circuit board e-waste recovery line

NSW-based green technology company Sircel is tackling one of the most valuable and complex components of e-waste with the launch of Australia’s first dedicated printed circuit board resource recovery line.

Described by Sircel as a major milestone for the circular economy and local manufacturing, the facility will allow the processing of printed circuit boards (PCB) entirely in Australia for the first time through the company’s proprietary SircelARRC green technology.

“This investment represents a huge step forward for Australian industry,” says Anthony Karam, Sircel’s founder and CEO.

“By recovering high-value metals and materials domestically, we can provide a faster, cleaner and more economical solution for local manufacturers and retailers.

“Importantly, we’re also creating a new pathway for businesses currently aggregating or sourcing PCBs and selling them overseas, giving them a stronger local option while strengthening Australia’s position in the circular economy.” 

Printed circuit boards are found in almost every modern electrical device, from computers, smartphones, TVs and LED lighting to medical equipment and aerospace technology.

Despite their small size, they contain a high concentration of critical minerals including precious metals. 

Sircel notes that Australians generate more than double the global average of e-waster per capita, with the national total e-waste projected to hit 657,000 tonnes by 2030, with much of this e-waste being shipped overseas to go in landfill.

The company says that by processing some of this waste onshore it enables these materials to be safely and efficiently recovered, reducing reliance on virgin mining, cutting emissions from overseas freight and keeping critical resources in circulation. 

Sircel, which was founded by Karam in 2017, is locating its PCB recycling facility at its Villawood facility in Sydney – one of six the company operates in three states including Parkes in regional NSW where it has solar panel recycling operations.

Sircel, which raised $5 million from Kilara Capital last year, became Australia’s largest e-waste processor after acquiring from administrators the assets of Scipher Technologies, a major e-waste processor based in Victoria.

The acquisition doubled the size of Sircel with operational sites across Victoria, regional NSW, Sydney and Brisbane.

Sircel says the new processing facility for PCBs aligns with the federal government’s circular economy plan, which targets an 80 per cent recovery rate for all resources by 2035.

The new PCB line is expected to deliver “market-leading extraction” of precious metals through specialised equipment, faster processing times and reduced costs compared with overseas alternatives.

The company says it also will lower regulatory risk, with full compliance with Basel Convention obligations that are tightening restrictions on hazardous e-waste exports.

Real-time commodity pricing linked to the London Metal Exchange is aimed at ensuring “transparent and fair returns” for customers. 

“The capability is a major boost for Australian businesses, who will now avoid costly international freight, hazardous goods logistics and offshore delays,” says the company.

“It also supports growing public sentiment, with research showing almost half of Australians want to see less e-waste being sent overseas, while nearly three-quarters prefer their e-waste to be recycled domestically.”