HMV

Recycling and Destruction of Excess/Faulty Media and Electronics

Challenge:

HMV, a leading entertainment retailer, has large volumes of excess/faulty media products, including DVDs, CDs, Vinyl, and electronics such as record players, headphones, earbuds, and charging cables. These items were unsellable and occupying valuable storage space. HMV required a recycling and secure destruction solution that would help them responsibly clear this stock while protecting their brand.

Solution:

GreenSphere collaborates with HMV to provide a comprehensive solution for both media and electronic products. Our approach includes:

1. Delivery and Transport:
   Secure delivery of media and electronic products from HMV’s facilities, ensuring safe and tracked transport to our recycling facility.
2. Sorting and Separation:
   Upon arrival, the products were sorted into categories—DVDs, CDs, Vinyl, record players, headphones, earbuds, and cables. Each type of material was separated to maximize recycling efficiency. For electronics, this included separating plastic, metal, and electronic components.
3. Secure Destruction of Electronics:
   For electronic items, we apply our secure destruction process to ensure that sensitive branded products, such as record players and headphones, are completely destroyed to prevent unauthorized resale. The destruction process is followed by the extraction of recyclable materials, including metals and plastics, from the electronic components.
4. Media Recycling:
   Discs are granulated into polycarbonate pellets, while cases are recycled into new plastic products. Paper and cardboard inserts are baled and sent for recycling.
5. Recycling and Repurposing of Electronics:
   The electronics, including cables, earbuds, and charging devices, are dismantled and separated into components. Plastics and metals are recovered for recycling, while electronic components are handled according to environmental regulations for e-waste.
6. Certification and Sustainability Reporting:
   HMV is provided with Certificates of Destruction, ensuring full accountability and verification that all products were responsibly recycled or securely destroyed.

Outcome:

HMV successfully cleared over 20 tonnes of unsellable stock, including media and electronic products, from their inventory. All items are either securely destroyed or responsibly recycled, contributing to a more sustainable retail model. HMV is able to free up storage space while ensuring that none of the branded or sensitive products re-enter the marketplace.