Mandated by law – with voluntary commitment for success

The legal basis for the SENS recycling system is the Swiss Ordinance on the Return, Taking Back and Disposal of Electronic Equipment (ORDEE).

The ORDEE came into force in 1998. In 2022, it was revised and its scope expanded. This regulation obliges manufacturers, retailers and importers to take back electrical and electronic equipment that is similar to their product range free of charge and to pass it on for professional recycling. The recycling system of SENS eRecycling makes the operation and implementation of this legal requirement both simple and efficient. In return, you are required to return your disused electrical equipment for recycling.

Swiss Ordinance on the Return, Taking Back and Disposal of Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Pioneering Swiss work

You can simply return your disused electrical and electronic equipment to manufacturers, retailers or importers, or to any collection point that is part of the SENS eRecycling system, free of charge. SENS eRecycling guarantees the environmentally friendly and professional handling of your disused electrical equipment.

Even though the legal framework for the return of waste equipment is clearly regulated by the ORDEE, the associated recycling system and financing are based on the principle of solidarity. They rely on independent business decisions – not on state regulations – which creates the optimal conditions for implementing appropriate solutions with great efficiency.

The result is an internationally pioneering recycling system that is considered one of the most successful in the world. Not only that, it is also the oldest system of its kind worldwide, demonstrating Switzerland's genuine pioneering efforts. No wonder that the Swiss recycling system for electrical equipment has long served as a model for the implementation of similar take-back systems in numerous other countries.