d4d MLC Kelly Vincent was at Aspitech yesterday when The Advertiser covered this story. The Advertiser - September 17, 2014 Richard Evans CRT recycling will close on Friday with 20 job losses as D-day looms for autistic workers at Aspitech A DISASTROUS Federal Government policy on e-waste will this week lead to the loss of more South Australian jobs in the recycling sector, a leading industry figure said on Tuesday. Michelle Morton, managing director of CRT Recycling, a specialist cathode ray recycler in Gepps Cross, said her company would close this Friday, costing 20 full-time jobs. A recent government decision to award export permits to allow e-waste to be taken from South Australia and shipped to South Korea, where it would become landfill, had made it financially impossible for CRT to continue trading she said. Ms Morton, who also runs ECycle SA and is on the Reserve Bank’s small business advisory panel, said then-state environment minister Jay Weatherill helped launch CRT with a $300,000 grant in May 2009. Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt is behind the decision to award the export licences, which had contributed to making her company and industry redundant, Ms Morton said. “The state government opened it (CRT) and now the Federal Government is closing it down, in effect,” she said. “Before the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS) there was a successful business model — now it’s all closing.” The closure will follow a black day at Underdale social enterprise recycler Aspitech yesterday, which chief executive Robert Hart said would close within two weeks with the loss of up to 140 jobs failing a significant cash injection. “We have an investigative accountant now undertaking due diligence,” he said. Minister for sustainability, environment and conservation, Ian Hunter, and Dignity for Disability MP Kelly Vincent met management and workers at Aspitech to try to find a last ditch solution and called for federal government intervention. The loss of meaningful employment will be devastating to workers with disabilities said Chris Hygonnet whose 20-year-old son Michael is a recent production line employee at Aspitech. “He loves it here and feels comfortable working at his own pace. It’s meaningful work and the social connectivity is very important,” she said. “The alternative is that he stays at home and plays computer games. He needs social networks and a purpose.” CRT recycling will close on Friday with 20 job losses as D-day looms for autistic workers at Aspitech. bit.ly/1qX4A0m
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 07:19:08 +0000
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