Stakeholders: services and perspectives

Manufacturers and importers: legal certainty and innovative ideas

For manufacturers and importers, Swico Recycling and SENS eRecycling are indispensable partners in meeting legal and environmental requirements. The systems offer standardised, legally compliant processes and relieve the burden on companies facing complex environmental and recycling regulations. The nationwide collection network also creates trust among consumers: their devices are recycled in a responsible manner at the end of their life cycle.

The high level of quality assurance and continuous development of recycling standards are held in particularly high esteem. The Swico Innovation Fund is valued as a practical instrument for promoting new recycling technologies and sustainable solutions. Manufacturers cite increasing product complexity and price pressure from cheap online imports, which in many cases are not subject to advance recycling contribution (ARC) fees.

The wish-list for the systems includes stable framework conditions, clear communication and close cooperation throughout the value chain.

Consumers: more visibility and a focus on reuse

In the view of the Fédération romande des consommateurs (FRC), awareness of Swico Recycling and SENS eRecycling among consumers still has room for improvement. Many do not know that WEEE can be returned free of charge. The FRC has also received feedback indicating that WEEE is not always taken back by retailers – even in large chains – due, presumably, to insufficient training of sales staff.

The FRC rates the SENS information campaign on disposable e-cigarettes (“Be a Vape Recycler”) positively as a successful example of a broad-based awareness-raising effort. Similar campaigns are important, it says, to explain to the population that electrical and electronic equipment must not be disposed of in household waste.

One of the FRC’s key concerns relates to reuse: Die Circular Platform stellt Informationen zur Weiternutzung von Geräten bereit, allerdings müssen Konsument:innen diese aktiv suchen. the FRC would like to see triaging for reuse carried out systematically within the collection system – so that reuse is preferred over recycling from an environmental standpoint.

Municipalities and public collection points: established partnerships, demand for remuneration that covers costs, and greater focus on the circular economy

A very large share of the WEEE collected comes through public collection points, despite the fact that they do not have a legal take-back obligation. In their work, they appreciate the reliable collection processes, clear rules on containers, and the information sheets provided for the collection, storage, and preparation of WEEE. The planning ability enabled by having defined compensation models and legal certainty is also rated positively. Pilot projects for reuse as well as for triage via artificial intelligence are seen by the municipalities as important steps towards a circular economy.

The remuneration, on the other hand, is viewed critically. The ARC is regarded by the SVKI as insufficient to cover costs, particularly with regard to personnel, logistics and infrastructure.

Municipalities would like to have stronger involvement in governance – for example, in logistics decisions and compensation models. Furthermore, they encourage the development of a binding and systematically financed solution for preparation for reuse: a part of the ARC would have to flow into the repair and refurbishment of WEEE in the future. At the same time, they call for the systems to perform their role as a bridge between manufacturers, repair companies, and recycling companies even more actively.

Recycling companies: planning security is a key factor

As operational actors in the circular economy, recycling companies are at the heart of the recycling system. They appreciate the role played by Swico Recycling and SENS eRecycling in ensuring financing stability: the systems make an important contribution to covering operating costs and improving planning reliability.

At the same time, the recycling companies are faced with significant challenges. Volatile commodities markets, rising energy and personnel costs, increasingly complex devices, and rising regulatory requirements are putting strains on the industry. In this environment, investment security is essential.

Cantons: indispensable partners for delegated implementation

For the cantons, Swico Recycling and SENS eRecycling are central hubs for delegated enforcement in the WEEE sector. This significantly relieves the burden on the cantons as the vast technical expertise of the systems and their experts enable the cantons to save resources by outsourcing enforcement.

They particularly appreciate the consistency of the audit methodology, with the same metrics applied to all operators in the different cantons, the traceability of material flows, and the reliable communication. The audits build trust. When cantons issue operating licences, they know that the companies are regularly and thoroughly inspected. Findings and deviations are actively communicated to the cantons and consistently followed up in the companies.

The biggest challenges for the coming years from the cantonal perspective include the fire risk from lithium batteries, the increase in low-cost imports without the ARC obligation, the handling of new product categories (photovoltaic modules, electric vehicle batteries), as well as unresolved legal and practical questions relating to repair and reuse. The cantons appreciate the exchange of information with the systems at the cantonal meeting level and suggest that this could be further intensified in technical terms in order to move current topics and challenges into the implementation phase in a quick and practical manner.

Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN): reliable industry solution that leads the way

FOEN regards the voluntary take-back systems operated by Swico Recycling and SENS eRecycling as playing a central role in WEEE recycling in Switzerland. Over decades, the two organisations have built a dense network of collection points and have financed it on a long-term basis with the advance recycling contribution (ARC). Thanks to this infrastructure, consumers can hand in their old equipment at any time and near where they live – a major reason for the high collection rate in Switzerland.

The FOEN estimates that the ARC finances not only collection, but also information campaigns, studies, and independent audits. These efforts, in turn, have ensured high quality standards and proper disposal according using state-of-the-art technology. In the context of the circular economy, FOEN sees private industry organisations as important players. They produce high-quality secondary raw materials such as copper, iron, and aluminium, and remove harmful substances from the cycle.

Conclusion: strong foundation – and expectations for the next stage

The interviews with the various stakeholders paint a largely consistent picture: over three decades, Swico Recycling and SENS eRecycling have built a stable, high-quality, and reliable take-back and recycling system. The systems are considered indispensable partners for authorities, industry, municipalities, and recycling companies. The ARC mechanism and the independent audits are viewed as particular strengths.

At the same time, clear expectations for the future are emerging. Stakeholders are calling on the systems to play an active role in reuse and repair, include the collection points in decision-making processes, conduct broader awareness campaigns for consumers, and engage in dialogue at an early stage when regulatory developments are involved.

Both Swico Recycling and SENS eRecycling welcome the open and differentiated feedback, as well as the expectations, of the stakeholders. The core task of the two systems is to close cycles. To this purpose, the existing, functioning systems are continuously upgraded and optimised. For example, the integration of reuse into the existing take-back system is already under thorough consideration. A concrete example of this is the Swico Recycling ReUse project, which has already provided valuable insights and is now moving into the next phase. At the same time, SENS eRecycling examined the legal framework conditions regarding preparation for reuse.

Other initiatives also underline this commitment to the circular economy: examples include the ongoing development of the Circular Platform by SENS eRecycling and the analysis of the reuse potential of photovoltaic modules within the framework of the Swiss PV Circle project. Together with the various stakeholders, the aim now is to advance these initiatives. The close working relationship that SENS eRecycling and Swico Recycling cultivate with the manufacturers, importers and retailers on the one hand, and the collection points and recycling companies on the other hand, offers clear opportunities for the systems to act as bridge-builders throughout the value chain. This potential has already been utilised by the two systems for decades and is actively promoted.

The two systems are in close contact and actively work together to advance joint projects. At the same time, they represent different industries with distinct requirements. Meeting these requirements is a key concern – and at the same time a challenging task for everyone involved in the take-back and recycling system. This makes continuous dialogue between all the stakeholders of both systems all the more important. This is the only way to foster and build mutual understanding, to the benefit of all involved parties. Both systems firmly believe that this dialogue is a crucial success factor at the intersection between keeping advance recycling fees as low as possible – and thus minimising the burden on consumers – and market-appropriate remuneration for collection, transport, and recycling.

In view of emerging challenges – from lithium batteries to low-cost imports and new product categories – Swico Recycling and SENS eRecycling will also be called upon in the coming decades to provide orientation and actively promote the circular economy.

Many thanks to all participating stakeholders:

• Claudia Rehm, Waste Management Specialist, Department for Construction, Traffic and Environment, Canton of Aargau
• Claudio Lutiger, Head of Business Process Specialists, ALSO Schweiz AG
• Donat Andrey, Research Associate, Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)
• Heidi Oswald, Managing Director, Association of Local Authorities of the Canton of Zug for Waste Disposal Administration (ZEBA)
• Isabelle Baudin, Project Manager, Waste / Circular Economy / Sustainability, Swiss Association for Municipal Infrastructure (SVKI)
• Kim Jäggi, Sustainability Officer, Canon Schweiz AG
• Laurianne Altwegg, Head of Environment, Agriculture and Energy, Fédération romande des consommateurs (FRC)
• Roger Blesi, CEO Groupe BAREC / Vice President of the Professional Association for ORDEE Disposal (FVG)
• Silvan Rüttimann, Team Leader Waste Management, Department of Construction, Environment, and Economic Affairs, Canton of Lucerne