Waipā e-waste recyclers Rotary Urban Miners can now collect and transport e-waste in a purpose-built truck thanks to local family-owned business C&R Developments.
The truck was gifted to Urban Miners from the Waipā District Council last year in recognition of their e-waste initiative, but needed a fitted cage so it could carry larger volumes of e-waste.
Spokesperson Mark Hanlon observes “There is quite a lot of engineering involved in creating a cage, particularly as it had to be custom-built for the truck.”
“We approached C&R Developments because they have got all the facilities to do it and, once again, the community came to the fore!”
“C&R Developments designed and built the whole cage to our specifications, they had it galvanized, and had a cover made for it, and no bill at the end of it!”
“We are indebted to the team at C&R Developments who did such a great job for us and to the company for their generosity.”
The completion of the truck this year has been timely, as Urban Miners have recently started collecting commercial e-waste from local businesses.
The new waterproof cover keeps everything dry and allows Urban Miners to operate even in the wettest weather.
Previously the operation had relied on private vehicles to tow collected e-waste in a trailer.
Phill Ross of C&R Developments who oversaw the project is quick to downplay the role of the company.
“We have been here for about 70-odd years, so they like to help out wherever they can!” he says with a smile.
Phill is also quick to acknowledge Jonty Short who he describes as a “rising star” in the firm. Jonty, now in his second year as an engineering apprentice at C&R Developments, built the new cage for the Urban Miners truck.
Photo: Phill Ross (left) and Jonty Short (right) of C&R Developments with the completed Urban Miners truck.
