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A small percentage of non-recyclable waste, such as thin plastic from computer labels, is sent to a landfill. That's why Morden-based recycler Exner E-Waste allows clients to be present when computers are destroyed. For a $5 fee, the company will even issue a certificate of destruction, listing serial numbers and other essential information on the hard drives. P e m b i n a Va l l e y M aking sure sensitive information is deleted from hard drives is a priority when business computers are recycled. "We're obviously in business to make money," Wilkinson says. "But we're also helping to prevent provincial landfills from being swamped by e-waste. It's all part of our contribution to saving the planet." "We have one customer who had 500 computers demolished in this manner," says human resources manager Dave Wilkinson. "Owners of household computers are also eligible for the service." Exner opened for business in July, 2011 when it received an environmental licence from Manitoba Conservation to recycle electronic waste. In May, the plant bought a new shredding machine capable of reducing a washing machine into scraps in 40 seconds. Indeed, washing machines, fridges, microwaves, computers, cell phones, televisions, stereos, CD and DVD players, ovens and fax machines are all grist for the mill. "Basically, we recycle anything that can be plugged into a wall," Wilkinson says. "Though we do refine pop cans as well." In 2010, Germany's Hubertus Exner partnered with Paul Wegner of Canada to bring his e-waste technology to Manitoba. Wegner says many of the machines used in the recycling process were invented by Exner himself. "Though it's a very expensive machine, the shredder will speed up our processing line and save us money in the long run," Wilkinson says. Morden was chosen because of its central location and its road and rail connections to all regions of Canada and the U.S. After shredding, residual material is pulverized in a hammer mill and separated into steel, copper, aluminum, lead, iron, gold, plastic and other valuable materials. Without the benefit of government startup grants, the Morden plant was privately financed, and the specialized machinery was built by the local workforce. After The company has applied to Electronics Product Stewardship Canada to become Manitoba's first EPSC-verified recycler of end-of-life electronics. Wilkinson is optimistic the application will be successful. It would allow the company to increase its workforce from eight to 38 to cope with additional volumes of e-waste delivered through the industry-led Manitoba Electronic Products Recycling Association. Currently, e-waste collected through the non-profit program is sent to processors in other provinces. Exner already processes e-waste from the universities of Manitoba, Winnipeg and Brandon, several school divisions and health authorities, along with the RCMP, Manitoba Liquor Board and the general public. Gone in 40 seconds: Exner E-Waste's shredder reduces electronics to byte-size bits. At full capacity, three to five tons of e-waste can be processed per hour. The refined e-waste is sold to "upstream users" who use the recycled materials to manufacture new goods. "The aluminum and other metal nuggets we turn out are up to 98% pure, which saves the end user a lot of money in productions costs," Wilkinson says. The next stage of development calls for construction of a new recycling centre and crushing facility on a 13-acre site in the Morden Industrial Park. When the plant is up and running in 2013, it will allow the company to move into full-scale vehicle and heavy equipment crushing, with retrieval of raw materials from vehicles. Hubertus Exner wants the plant to be his innovation centre for waste management technology in North America, and Wilkinson believes the company is positioned to become a world leader in e-waste recycling. www.exnerewaste.com Pembina Valley Altona & District Chamber of Commerce Morden & District Chamber of Commerce Morris & District Chamber of Commerce PLum Coulee & District Chamber of Commerce Rosenort & District Chamber of Commerce Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce New & Noteworthy >> CBC's The National anchor Peter Mansbridge was invited to be the keynote speaker at the 2012 P.W. Enns Business Awards Gala, presented by the Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 1. Award winners are Janzen's Paint & Decorating Ltd. (customer service award), Pembina Valley Auto Service (business builder award, less than 10 employees), D.A. Loewen Electric Ltd. (business builder award, more than 10 employees) and Access Credit Union, Winkler Branch (business excellence award). >> The town of Morris will host the 55Plus Games June 11 - 13, 2013. The three-day program includes events ranging from carpet bowling to swimming and track competitions. The 2012 Games in Arborg attracted almost 900 participants. www.alcoamb.org MBiz November 2012 19

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