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The main facts and figures relating to SENS eRecycling at a glance
Last year, the average Swiss citizen disposed of 10.36 kilograms of waste electrical and electronic equipment in the SENS system. The total volume of electrical equipment thrown away amounts to a total weight of 92,874 tonnes (incl. lighting equipment, photovoltaics, industrial and vehicle batteries, heat pumps and e-cigarettes). You can find impressive values, useful figures and information on important changes here.
Last year, the average Swiss citizen disposed of 10.36 kilograms of waste electrical and electronic equipment in the SENS system. The total volume of electrical equipment thrown away amounts to a total weight of 92,874 tonnes (incl. lighting equipment, photovoltaics, industrial and vehicle batteries, heat pumps and e-cigarettes). You can find impressive values, useful figures and information on important changes here.
SENS eRecycling
A close network of partnerships
Whether they’re ARC partners or disposal partners, small companies or large corporations: all of our partners are essential in ensuring that eRecycling remains a success story in Switzerland. Close interconnection of all partners is a key element of Switzerland’s largest take-back system for electrical equipment.
Key Figures for the Take-back System
| Key figures | 2022 | 2023 | Change in % |
| Manufacturers/importers subject to ARFs | 1 285 | 1 381 | 7% |
| Official SENS recycling companies | 20 | 20 | 0% |
| Official SENS collection points (without satellites) | 509 | 509 | 0% |
| Customers in the SENS OnlineSystem | 2 743 | 3 033 | 11% |
| Collection orders via the SENS OnlineSystem | 31 752 | 32 080 | 1% |
| Credit notes for recycling services | 7 945 | 8 072 | 2% |
Disposal partners
Recycling that sets international standards
As one of the oldest take-back systems for electronic equipment, SENS eRecycling has been setting future-oriented standards in eRecycling since its conception. Our disposal partners are a key driver of this.
Recycling
| Small household appliances including toys, games and lamps | 2022 | 2023 | Change in % |
| Volume in tonnes | 30 386 | 32 399 | 7% |
| Via official SENS collection points | 86% | 87% | 1% |
| Through retail | 11% | 10% | –1% |
| Returned directly to the official SENS recycling companies | 4% | 3% | –1% |
| Collection rate* | 47% | 53% | 6% |
| Large household appliances | 2022 | 2023 | Change in % |
| Volume in tonnes | 37 167 | 37 993 | 2% |
| Via official SENS collection points | 78% | 81% | 3% |
| Through retail | 17% | 16% | –1% |
| Returned directly to the official SENS recycling companies | 5% | 3% | –2% |
| Collection rate* | 83% | 92% | 9% |
| Refrigerators and freezers | 2022 | 2023 | Change in % |
| Volume in tonnes | 20 508 | 20 568 | 0% |
| Via official SENS collection points | 62% | 67% | 5% |
| Through retail | 13% | 12% | –1% |
| Returned directly to the official SENS recycling companies | 26% | 21% | –5% |
| Collection rate* | 79% | 85% | 6% |
| Lighting equipment | 2022 | 2023 | Change in % |
| Volume in tonnes | 955 | 1 047 | 10% |
| Via official SENS collection points | 42% | 39% | –3% |
| Through retail | 2% | 2% | 0% |
| Returned directly to the official SENS recycling companies | 55% | 59% | 4% |
| Lamps | 2022 | 2023 | Change in % |
| Volume in tonnes | 3 278 | 3 714 | 13% |
| Medical devices | 2022 | 2023 | Change in % |
| Volume in tonnes | 6 | 38 | 571% |
| Photovoltaics | 2022 | 2023 | Change in % |
| Volume in tonnes | 936 | 760 | –19% |
| Welding equipment | 2022 | 2023 | Change in % |
| Volume in tonnes | 2 | 4 | 73% |
| Electromobility | 2022 | 2023 | Change in % |
| Volume in tonnes | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Heat pump | 2022 | 2023 | Change in % |
| Volume in tonnes | 0 | 50 | 100% |
| E-cigarettes | 2022 | 2023 | Change in % |
| Volume in tonnes | 0 | 16 | 100% |
| Total | |||
| Total volume recycled within the SENS system | 89 961 | 92 874 | 3% |
| Total volume recycled per head in kilograms | 10,23 | 10,36 | 1% |
¹ 8 815 400 inhabitants in 2022, 8 960 800 inhabitants in 2023 according to FSO.
* The collection rate indicates the relation between the collected quantity of disused waste electrical and electronic appliances and the quantity of new appliances put into circulation. The rate is determined annually and used as an indicator of a take-back system’s performance. Switzerland has one of the highest collection rates in Europe. As a permit from the Federal Office for the Environment is required to export defective electrical and electronic appliances, this only occurs on rare occasions. Furthermore, only small quantities are improperly discarded, e.g. with general waste. Thanks to the dense network of collection points, the broad coverage of processing facilities and the financing of the recycling process by the advance recycling fee (ARF), almost all waste electrical and electronic appliances are properly processed using the take-back system (SENS, Swico). Inaccuracies currently still exist with regard to the mix of goods and the factors used when converting from items to kilograms in the case of new appliances. Furthermore, the storage of unused appliances by their owners or their passing on for further use are not considered in the collection rate.
Manufacturers and importers
Voluntary participation is the foundation for success
The SENS eRecycling take-back system is based on independent business decisions – not government regulations. The principle of voluntary participation, the preservation of entrepreneurial autonomy and the absence of political constraints make it possible to implement appropriate solutions with great efficiency, and without losing sight of sector-specific goals.
Over 1,381 partners have opted in, which ensures equitable funding of the take-back system in Switzerland. This way, everyone wins: businesses, people and nature.
Advance recycling contribution
Advance funding for maximum convenience
With the advance recycling contribution (ARC), funding for collection, transport and recycling is already secured when a product is purchased. This is highly convenient for the consumer, because once an electrical device stops working, it can be returned to any sales outlet or one of over 750 collection points free of charge. It couldn’t be any easier!
SENS eRecycling
Obstgartenstrasse 28
8006 Zürich