businessinfomag.uk magazine The Rt Hon Anna Turley MP for Redcar, who opened the facility with Tees Valley Mayor Lord Ben Houchen, said: “Critical metals are essential to Britain’s manufacturing, energy, technology and national security, yet too much valuable metal-bearing waste is still exported for processing overseas. That means the UK loses materials, economic value and control over strategically important supply chains. DEScycle’s plant in Redcar is an important step towards changing that.” DEScycle developed its recycling technology using a novel class of chemistry discovered by the University of Leicester, working with the UK Catapult CPI (Centre for Process Innovation) to scale from the lab to pilot. Leo Howden, CEO at DEScycle, added: “This facility is the first operational blueprint for DEScycle’s distributed metals processing model. It allows us to prove the platform in an industrial environment, generate the data needed for commercial deployment and show how modular processing capacity can be replicated across industrial clusters in the UK, US, Europe and Japan. At a time when critical minerals are urgently needed for AI, electrification and advanced manufacturing, we believe the UK has an opportunity to lead in a new model of metals processing.” descycle.com First-of-its-kind critical minerals processing plant opened on Teesside DEScycle, a British start-up building next-generation metals processing infrastructure, has deployed the first operational example of its distributed metals processing system at a newly opened demonstration plant at Wilton Centre in Teesside. The facility, where Chris McDonald MP, Minister for Industry, recently announced a £50m investment for the domestic production of critical minerals, will demonstrate how critical and precious metals can be recovered from complex electronic waste closer to where materials are generated, rather than being exported and processed overseas. The UK Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy has a target for recycling to meet 20% of annual UK critical mineral demand by 2035. The plant is capable of processing 50-100 tonnes of material annually during the demonstration phase and will support DEScycle’s transition from pilot operations to repeatable commercial deployment. Initial operations will focus on processing printed circuit boards and other complex electronic feedstocks and recovering gold, copper, silver and palladium. DEScycle is also developing recovery capabilities for tin, iron and aluminium. It argues that the time has come for governments to ensure every citizen and business has access to a single, secure, universal digital inbox, which it likens to essential public infrastructure such as a postal address or national ID. To support the development of a universal digital mailbox, the white paper outlines five policy recommendations: Develop a digitalisation strategy centred on a single universal mailbox. Strengthen trust through security, identity verification and privacy by design. Consider a clear government mandate for postal operators to provide digital mailbox services where market incentives are insufficient. Promote digital inclusion by using physical channels as onboarding and support points. Prevent vendor lock-in through data portability and common standards. The Case for a Universal Postal Digital Mailbox can be downloaded from https://tinyurl.com/39bbs2xj … ITVET calls for unused laptops as school demand outstrips supply ITVET, a Bishop’s Stortford-based technology solutions provider that also refurbishes donated corporate hardware and distributes it free of charge to schools, charities and community organisations across the UK, is calling on businesses to donate unwanted devices to its Laptops for Schools programme. Launched in 2020, during the pandemic, the programme has already donated more than 3,000 refurbished laptops and PCs to schools and charities and, in doing so, has prevented an estimated 2 tonnes of electronic waste from entering landfill. It currently has a waiting list of around 30 organisations in need of equipment for children and/or staff supporting vulnerable groups. Over the last six years, the programme has evolved from relying on public donations to sourcing devices through corporate clients, particularly businesses nearing the end of three-year lease agreements and/or IT refresh cycles. ITVET manages and funds the full refurbishment process, including free data wiping and certified data destruction, a service typically valued at around £50 per device. www.itvet.co.uk/about/ laptops-for-schools BULLETIN 08 …continued Fasthosts supporting Gloucester with Town & City gift cards UK web hosting company Fasthosts is supporting its home city of Gloucester by replacing Amazon vouchers for star employees with a local gift card that can be spent with registered shops, restaurants, salons, attractions and services, thus benefiting the local economy. The Gloucester Gift Card was introduced by Gloucester Business Improvement District (BID) in November 2019 to encourage local shopping and keep spend locked into the area. Over 170 businesses in Gloucester accept the card, including big brands and independent businesses. Founded in 1998, Fasthosts is one of the largest employers in Gloucester with 250 staff across Fasthosts and its parent company IONOS.
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