Buddies - Andrew Tay

Andrew Tay

Business Development Director - KGS

MAIN SKILLS

Circularity Strategies

e-waste

ITAD

Singapore

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Andrew’s introduction

I started my career as a mechanical engineer for 5 years and joined TayPaper Recycling in 2018. I am now working at KGS, an e-waste and data sanitization company.

Top 3 pieces of advice to The Matcha Initiative (TMI) users ?

Start the conversation with someone in this network and you might be surprise where it leads.
Sustainability is a journey and not a quick fix. Many efforts will be required.
As consumers of products or services, we all have the power to vote with our dollars. Vote green.

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How could you help TMI users ?

I can help to start the sustainability conversation and connect to any solutions I might have in my network.

Expertise

How did KGS started? what are the main e-waste you collect? and what services do you offer? How do you make sure what you collect is properly recycled ? What are the processes in place?

I joined KGS as a business development director in early 2021. Main e-waste we collect is ICT equipment ranging from laptops to servers. With ICT equipment, it often contains data so data sanitization services such as magnetic degaussing are value added services we provide when we help clients recycle e-waste. From Dec 2020 to June 2021, we have been instrumental in executing and promoting the PMD disposal and recycling program with the support of NEA and LTA.

We sort the e-waste we collected into various types and send them for refurbishment or recycling. Then we proceed to dismantle the items down into its component level, segregate into respective materials and send for further recycling. We are audited to international standards for our processes and partners we work with to ensure proper recycling.

What are the challenges in the e-waste industry? The EPR came into effect on July 1st 2021, what did it change for your industry?

Main challenge in our industry is manpower. The collection, sorting and recycling processes are very labour intensive.

With the EPR, it restricts us from collecting from the public unless authorised by the PRS operator and NEA.

You have also launched your own business, TheRollieco, selling recycled toilet paper. How did you come up with this idea? Can you tell us more about the process you went through from the idea to the final products?

It started when I was involved in promoting paper document shredding as part of data protection. I was explaining to my wife that shredded documents are sent for recycling and likely made into products like toilet papers. She suggested that it would be meaningful if customers who shred their documents can have a roll of these recycled toilet papers to use.

This idea stuck with us and we decided to start researching and sourcing. One thing led to another and we launched our eco toilet paper made from 100% recycled papers in Apr 2021.

Challenge in the B2C market is the challenge to reach customers. When we do, there are stigma to overcome such as price, quality and brand name. People tend to stick to what they are familiar with even when those products are not good for the environment.

We plan to help Singaporeans make the eco switch to sustainable necessity products and gradually expand to neighbouring cities.

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud to be playing a part of some of these projects and initiatives to help improve sustainability in Singapore.