Western News: June 03, 2021

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6 Thursday June 3 2021 Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz WESTERN NEWS Using science and recycling as a way • By Bea Gooding RUDY KRAMERS considers himself a bit of a mad scientist. “I love blowing things up. I used to spend a lot of time at my kids’ school doing science demonstrations – the bigger the bang, the more excited they got.” For as long as he can remember, science and technology have run through his veins. And while most people shied away from live electricity, Kramers gravitated towards it. It is what made him the perfect fit to join the team at Molten Media Trust, a charity that promotes the ethical recycling of electronics by refurbishing devices destined for landfill. Said Kramers: “I love the idea of electrons running through a wire, you can’t see it, but you know it’s there. And if there’s enough of it, you can feel it, even if it means getting an electric shock.” Molten Media stopped 30 tonnes of electronic waste from devices for the trust to repair or A software developer by going to landfill last year. refurbish. trade, Kramers’ arrival as a Eighty to 90 per cent of They are often stripped for trustee last year came at a time dismantled component parts parts that are either sold through when the charity was entering are also diverted away from the the trust’s online store or put “dangerous territory” as a result dump. 260 towards building x something 180 new of Covid-19. People and businesses donate to donate to community groups It was on the brink of closure unwanted TVs, computers, who cannot afford brand new after operating for more than phones, printers and other devices, like computers. two decades. Income dropped ZERO WASTE: Rudy Kramers is the perfect fit as trustee of Molten Media because science and technology run through his veins. PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN to “almost nothing” during the lockdown as donations stopped flowing in. Excluding the trustees, there were only two staff on hand to process a massive backlog of electronics needing to be taken apart. Tasks like separating plastic away from steel were timeconsuming enough as it is. “Covid was the final nail in the coffin. Having the money to pay rent each month was the crux of whether the place was viable or not,” Kramers said. “Trying to sell stuff is getting harder because companies like PB Tech and Noel Leeming are selling stuff so much cheaper than they ever have. “We’d be lucky to get $50 for a second-hand TV.” Selling parts and refurbished devices to help cover funding shortfalls got more challenging because people were willing to pay less. “Metal prices are trending downwards,” said Kramers. “Countries like China who are big buyers of steel and scrap were paying less for it, so the amount of money we were getting from metal recyclers has [also] gone down. But following personal cash injections from the pockets of trustees, Kramers felt confident the trust can be self-sufficient again without relying on grants, which were hard to come by. His confidence derives from a place of wanting to see the charity succeed and a passion for sustainability, even if it did come with its frustrations. Need Heat Fast? The Fastest, Warmest Indoor/Outdoor Heater You Will Ever Own! Buy One Get One Free! * +Plus Free Floor Stand!* worth $199.99 • Heats Up Instantly • Suitable for Indoors or Outdoors – In Rain, Fog, Wind or Snow • Carbon-Fibre Bulb Technology *Call for Terms & Conditions • Multi-Directional Stand • Includes Remote Control & Built-In Timer • Motion Detection Function 1.8m High • Commercial Grade • Multi-Directional • Easy Install • Portable • Indoors & Outdoors CALL NOW! 0800 665 665
WESTERN NEWS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Thursday June 3 2021 7 to look after the environment If only businesses took more steps to reduce waste by being actively involved in where it went next and ensuring products were made to last in the first place. Things like household appliances produced en masse to be sold in chain stores may lower the cost for consumers, but not the cost it has on the environment. Said Kramers: “I’m disappointed that we haven’t dealt with this sooner because it’s a problem that people have talked about for a long time, everyone keeps sweeping it into the too hard basket. “It blows me away what comes through the door, you can tell someone purchased it earlier in the year and it’s already in the bin.” Kramers channels this energy into educating the next generation the reason why organisations like Molten Media exist. He has been involved with the trust since its early days to enable better access to raw materials for this purpose. Along with teaching children how to code, the workshops allow them to experiment with recycled parts. It could be using a motor that used to power a printer – perfect for building robots. After all, they are the ones who have to deal with the waste later on, he said. “It gives kids an opportunity to see what happens to old computers when they die, and we can explain to them how much bad materials are inside them. “I think phones are one of the worst as far as the number of toxic chemicals that go into building it. “One of the things they enjoy the most is ripping something apart or throwing too many volts into something and finding out how much it takes before smoke comes out.” A portion of laptops and desktop computers are donated back to charities. This was something Kramers was proud of, particularly when helping vulnerable families have access to technology through a partnership with 0800 Hungry, Canterbury’s largest foodbank. But ultimately, the most rewarding part was when people SCRAPS: The Molten Media Trust promotes ethical recycling of electronic equipment and last year, it diverted 30 tonnes of waste away from landfill. made an effort to reuse waste. “I really like that side of it where people come in and want to do the right thing,” said Kramers. Even though he was “spreading himself a bit thin” juggling a day job, raising three children with his wife and helping the trust survive, he enjoyed what he did more than he ever has. What kept him going was the ability to combine his love of building electronics with giving ‘It gives kids an opportunity to see what happens to old computers when they die’ – Rudy Kramers back to the community. A fascination with artificial intelligence meant his latest project was building a robot, but that was still a work in progress. In the meantime, Kramers had a few simple messages to consumers about the power they had to instil change. “When you’re buying something always go for the next model up, never go for the cheapest item. It will find itself in our waste stream much quicker,” he said. “More pressure on the council on what they’re doing about waste minimisation would hopefully mean people like us are brought to the forefront.” •If you want to donate electronics, phone the trust on 377 1154 or email dispatch@molten.org.nz in the first instance. There is usually a minimum charge of $5 depending on what is being received to help the trust with overhead costs for recycling. bespoke, upscale & personalised care The reassurance of quality is built in to everything we do at The Russley Village. However, nowhere is the requirement for reassurance more important than within our new Ashley Suites Care Facility – setting new standards in care, comfort and security. Our highly appointed care suites offer private ensuite and a kitchenette with refrigerator, microwave and refreshment making facilities – providing a sense of residence. This boutique facility is truly unique, and offers personalised rest home and hospital care within an elegant residential setting. rest home & hospital level care
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Western News: June 03, 2021

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