From us for you

We commonly refer to these people as freeloaders – they purchase their electronic devices abroad, sell them in Switzerland as a Swiss company, or order them from foreign online retailers without paying the advanced recycling fee. In this case, we are then responsible for the disposal costs for these devices, which results in gaps in the eRecycling cycle. The SENS eRecycling system alone faces a deficit of three to four million Swiss francs annually.

The SENS eRecycling system, which we have spent the last 28 years creating, maintaining, optimising and developing together with our partners, is the result of a great deal of dedication and hard work. Now this shift in sales and purchasing behaviour presents us with challenges that we can no longer master on our own with voluntary means. That is why, in 2017, together with Swico Recycling and the Swiss Lighting Recycling Foundation (SLRS), a number of us travelled to Bern to ensure that the government steps in to strengthen our current system in the areas where it needs help, while at the same time recognising its strengths in terms of independence and its voluntary principle.

The result: on 13 December, the Council of States unanimously approved a motion instructing the Federal Council to implement the “mandatory participation with exemption option” principle for the take-back and recycling systems for electrical equipment. Anyone importing, manufacturing or selling equipment appearing on the Ordinance on the Return, Taking Back and Disposal of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (ORDEE) list in Switzerland in the future should pay an advance disposal fee (ADF) to a private organisation appointed by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). Those affiliated with a voluntary take-back system should be released from this obligation. We feel that the solution proposed in the motion will provide funds quickly and in a targeted manner to ensure financial security for the disposal of old electrical equipment.

In the next step, the National Council will evaluate the motion. Once both councils have approved the motion, the Federal Council will receive the instruction to adapt the ordinance.

Together with Swico Recycling, SLRS and my team, we are fighting tooth and nail for this mandatory participation solution because our many years of experience in this field have shown us that this is the best solution for everyone. It combines the advantages of the voluntary take-back system such as, for example, manufacturer responsibility or the option to help shape the system, with the advantages of mandatory participation, and also ensures streamlined, efficient management and organisation.

I hope that you will support us in our efforts. I look forward to reporting more soon – live from Bern.


Andreas Röthlisberger

As our partners, you have participated in a large number of workshops to help us design, develop and implement the SENS 2.0 system. Naturally, change is never a completely smooth process, and that was also the case for us. But the fact that we were able to implement such fundamental changes to our organisation without any major incidents or outages is phenomenal. And it would not have been possible without your help. The fact that this year’s financial results have exceeded our expectations underscores this positive sentiment and has assured us that we are on the right track.

But we don’t want to sit idly by with our hands in our laps – we will continue to be faced with upheavals on the market, shifts in the price of raw materials and new technical requirements for disposal, and these issues will force us to continually evolve and grow. If you are interested in the technical requirements for disposal, then I recommend you read the report that is currently available for download at the eWaste Forum (ewasteforum.ch). This report clearly demonstrates that the demands placed on the quality of our consolidated cargo will increase in the near future.

We also have positive news to report in terms of our communications – Swiss citizens are paying more and more attention to electronic equipment recycling. The brochure “Five myths about electronic waste” was included as an insert in a number of magazines and reached a wide audience. The conversation is also taking place on social media.

All of our activities have a single goal: the sustainable recovery of as many raw materials as possible of the highest possible quality. However, even this goal is impossible for us to achieve alone – we need you, our partners. For this reason, I want to extend my sincere thanks to you. You make the eRecycling cycle complete.


Heidi Luck