Municipal recycling centres as an indispensable link

The municipal recycling centre is the centre of waste separation in every municipality. The recycling centre is also an important collection point for the collection of e-waste.

Fire safety, smart containers and adequate drainage

You can find our closed containers with various smaller bins, the so-called IBC containers in the recycling centres. Large devices can be set apart on one side of the container. The bins are for smaller equipment and flat TV screens. This way, we prevent the spontaneous ignition of batteries and flat TV screens from breaking.  Employees of our cooperation partner PreZero ensure adequate collection of containers on the agreed dates.

Devices are given a new lease of life in the thrift shop

The recycling centre also plays a leading role in the field of reuse. Many recycling centres have a special container for reusable devices. They do this in collaboration with local thrift shops. Win-win! Because the more products we reuse, the fewer new raw materials are needed. And that’s good for our planet and for us.

Sheltered workshops in regional sorting centres

We take the collected e-waste to one of the regional sorting centres. Here, people with poor job prospects are given the opportunity to participate in the labour market again. Together with the municipal organisations and the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV), we ensure that dozens of people re-integrate and move on each year. This is how we make municipal waste policy social and circular in the region. Read more [link to case RSC A’dam]

Involving children in e-waste and collection

Pupils from schools are involved in the municipal collection process by organising e-waste races. In doing so, pupils are made aware and inspired about proper e-waste collection and circularity in a fun way. The pupils, in turn, encourage their families and neighbourhoods to hand in more. Read more

Collection from major electronics chains

Are you a retailer of a large electronics chain? Then you know better than anyone else how quickly old equipment starts piling up in your storage. And how to get rid of this without disrupting your primary processes? When dealing with these volumes of waste, we make it as easy as possible for you as a retailer. We already do this for Coolblue and PostNL.

Regional and national depots

Where to get rid of all that waste? To this end, we set up a recycling centre at your own depot: a few smart containers where you can dispose of the various discarded devices. In addition to e-waste, we also take polystyrene foam with us, which is a popular packaging material for electronics. To this end, we work with EPS Netherlands. Read more

Fewer kilometres = fewer emissions

At the depot, you need to pre-sort the e-waste. This ensures that no further sorting is necessary at our own regional sorting centres and allows us to immediately transport the waste to the recycler. We also advise you on the most effective way to load the containers. This way, we prevent unnecessary transport kilometres.

Advice on WEEE and waste legislation

As a knowledge centre, we are on hand in the event of checks or audits by regional or national enforcement bodies and you can ask us for advice on WEEE and other waste legislation. Do you collect e-waste across the Dutch border? In that case, we’ll advise and guide you in drawing up the correct internal and external procedures.

Practical and easy

Our logistics solutions are practical and the associated administration is straight-forward. Do you have questions or do you need to adjust something in the schedule? Our logistics planning can be contacted every working day! The e-waste continues its way through our social chain for further processing. You’ll receive a collection and sorting allowance through the Stichting OPEN producer collective.

The E-Waste Race

So children understand the importance of a circular economy

Do you have an old laptop, a broken lamp or anything else with a plug or battery lying around in your house, still to be disposed of at some point in the future? You’re not the only one! And that’s a shame, because with the right type of processing, this would be perfect for recycling. A lot of e-waste still ends up in the wrong place, where it causes damage to people or the environment. Like in our residual waste. Being aware of the collection of e-waste and of a circular economy is especially important for children, because they’re our future. Together with Race Against Waste, we organise the annual E-waste Race.

Competition between schools

The E-waste Race is a fun and educational way for children to learn and experience what e-waste involves. First they follow some interactive, entertaining lessons about e-waste and circular economy. Then they’ll set to work themselves: competing with nine other schools, they collect as many old electrical appliances as possible in their neighbourhood. Students, teachers and family members literally pull out all the stops to contribute to electronics recycling. There are some great prizes to be won for the participating schools. The main prize is a school trip to the NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam.

Watch the video about the E-waste Race below:

Successful for almost a decade

The E-waste Race brings about a positive change in behaviour and more awareness among students and their immediate environment, such as parents and teachers. This is shown by research by the Eindhoven University of Technology.  After all, recycling electronic waste is not just something for today, but also for tomorrow! On average, the children collect around 14,000 kg of e-waste during a race. And they have been doing that since 2014. Check the results here!

Polystyrene foam take-back: a welcome service

Polystyrene foam (EPS) is almost weightless, but does take up a lot of space. Many new appliances are packaged with EPS to protect against damage. But this subsequently creates a difficult and expensive type of waste for retailers. We offer retailers an extra service if we collect e-waste from them: we take the EPS along with the e-waste. A welcome service!

EPS Netherlands gives the polystyrene foam a new lease of life

We work together with EPS Netherlands for the collection and processing of polystyrene foam. This organisation collects the EPS from the Regional Sorting Centres. The material is then sorted and processed in Drachten. The unique material structure is preserved, so you can immediately use the original raw material (EPS) in new products.

From waste to insulation board

Polystyrene foam is available in all shapes and sizes, including varying diversity and qualities. For example, the packaging of a washing machine offers a higher compressive strength than that of a mobile phone. EPS Netherlands ensures all these different packaging are given a new lease of life as a raw material after use. The raw material is used in the production of insulation boards (XPS boards). This is made by the parent company of EPS Netherlands, Soprema, for the insulation of buildings. XPS panels offer extremely high insulation values.

And that completes the circle

We collect waste that is difficult to collect while maintaining a high level of financial efficiency. We use this to replace a large volume of virgin raw materials for the manufacturing of high-quality new products. A great step within the circular economy.

Collection at shops: easy and correct

With every device sold, you as a retailer take back the old appliance from the buyer (the ‘old-for-new’ arrangement). If you deliver the new equipment to people’s homes, you also take the packaging material back with you after installation. Most shops have been doing this for years as part of their customer service. How does the discarded equipment and packaging waste reach the sorting centre? We make that as easy as possible for you as a shopkeeper!

Easy and fast

• Each collection vehicle is operated by 2 members of staff. As a shopkeeper, you don’t have to carry anything yourself.
• Do you have questions or do you need to adjust something in the schedule? Our logistics planning can be contacted every working day!
• Everything we collect, we record and report digitally. Immediately after collection, you will receive an e-mail with an overview of what we have collected. You will receive all corresponding fees from Stichting OPEN per month.
• We also collect the polystyrene foam for you.

Good for people and the environment

• Our logistics partner, Get2Green, drives CO2-neutral trucks that run on biodiesel made from waste materials.
• The regional sorting centre employs people with poor job prospects. Read more [link to case RSC Amsterdam]
• Devices that can be reused are given a new lease of life. We do this together with various partners such as Holland Circulair, Kristal and Refurn. (links underneath to cases Holland Circulair / Kristal / Refurn)
• Our cooperation partner, EPS Netherlands, processes the polystyrene foam into insulation boards for homes, i.e. completely circular. Read more

Together today for tomorrow: we are a social enterprise!

Impact first

We’re a company that puts social value first. That’s why we also feel at home at Social Enterprise NL, a driver of social entrepreneurs. We’ve been a member since 2018. We believe that we have a social mission and this is reflected in our policy and business operations.

Accelerator of a circular economy

The world around us is changing and we have to deal with our waste differently. No old computer in the attic, keeping a broken vacuum cleaner in the back of storage or dumping a refrigerator in the bushes. We promote the collection of discarded electrical appliances. And we ensure that either they are returned to the market in the form of a suitable raw material or that the refurbished appliance is reused. To do this, we bring various sustainable companies together and work with them seamlessly and enthusiastically. This way, we contribute to creating a circular economy.

Sheltered employment: good for people

We create opportunities for people who find it difficult to find work and who are socially marginalised. You can thrive in an environment with colleagues, where you are appreciated and where you can find structure. Right now, more than 150 people with poor job prospects are working for us. They work as co-drivers on the collection vehicles, in one of the regional sorting centres or are otherwise involved in our recycling activities.

Click here for more information about Social Enterprise NL

Rataplan: the best and largest thrift shop chain

Rataplan is a thrift shop chain with dozens of shops in the provinces of North Holland, South Holland, Gelderland and Flevoland. This makes it the largest chain in the Netherlands. And, according to them, the best! It’s an independent, non-profit foundation that aims to create opportunities for both people and the environment. We enjoy working with them.

Not a mile too far

Together with Rataplan, we developed an internal collection network for all e-waste. Rataplan takes care of the internal transport: they collect the e-waste at their smaller thrift shops on their trips to the main branches. On the way back, they then have room for new second-hand items to fill their shop. We then take care of the removal of all e-waste from their main branches to the regional sorting centre. This way, we avoid many unnecessary transport kilometres, while the collection is organised well.

Recycling Service Centre Amsterdam and Milieuwerk

The Recycling Service Centre Amsterdam (RSC Amsterdam) is 1 of our 7 regional sorting centres. The sorting centre places great emphasis on involving people with poor job prospects. Besides, it’s perhaps the most inventive sorting centre in the Netherlands, with which we are keen to work with.

Sorting centre teams up with Milieuwerk as a sheltered employer

The RSC Amsterdam works with Stichting Milieuwerk to get as many people back into work as possible. Milieuwerk is a sheltered employment agency for businesses in the Amsterdam port area: people are employed by Milieuwerk and placed with companies. This way, Milieuwerk bridges the gap between people with poor job prospects and sustainable companies. Milieuwerk takes care of the supervision and anything to do with the authorities. The employer therefore only has to focus on creating a healthy workplace.

Smart sorting of e-waste for a circular economy

Every day, RSC Amsterdam sorts the collected e-waste from municipalities in Amsterdam, Flevoland and the Gooi and Vecht region. The employees sort the collected e-waste according to processing category and remove harmful substances. For example, batteries are removed from devices, ink toners are removed and packaging materials such as cardboard and plastic are sorted. Through smart sorting, e-waste is optimally returned to the original raw materials during further processing.

RSC Amsterdam is a jack of all trades

At the sorting centre, residual batches and old stocks are destroyed, materials are unpacked, raw materials are separated from each other for reuse and textiles sorted. Companies from all over the Netherlands know where to find the RSC Amsterdam for answers to difficult waste issues, which are labour intensive. It’s a raw materials company that can turn its hand to anything.

Win-win situation with regional inclusive sorting centres

In 2014, together with various municipalities, we introduced a different way of collecting and sorting e-waste. We wanted to create more sheltered employment in the region and contribute to the circular transition as much as possible. Together we anchored sustainable and social values with the formation of regional inclusive sorting centres. And now some 200 enthusiastic and committed employees from 7 sorting centres work on e-waste recycling every day. At the same time, we reduce CO2 emissions with smart logistics and product and resource conservation. A win-win situation for municipalities, institutions and businesses.