Annual Report - Sens

2011 

Annual Report

Table of contents 

Annual Report 3 

Forewords by the President and Managing Director 4 

Focus in 2012 : revision of the VREG 7 

e-Recycling: politics and society 8 

e-Recycling: today and tomorrow 10 

e-Recycling: consumption and trends 14 

Publicity: sustainable measures 16 

Processes: ongoing optimisation 18 

Economic efficiency: more efficient collection 20 

Networks: achieving more together 22 

e-Recycling: money and mind 24 

Leadership: setting standards 27 

e-Recycling: innovation and progress 28 

Aims for 2012: four winners 30 

Financial Report 33 

ARF fund: remains in the black 34 

SENS operating account 38 

SENS balance sheet 39 

Auditor’s report 40 

SLRS annual report: lighting equipment and luminaires 42 

SENS: competent and efficient 46 

Partnerships: successful from A to Z 49 

Contents 

SENS Annual Report 2011 3

Forewords by the President and Managing Director 

Being fully prepared for tomorrow means doing our homework 

properly today. Appointing Patrick Lampert as our new Managing 

Director and successor to Heidi Luck, who held the post 

on a caretaker basis, and a decision on our future strategic 

focus by the Board of Trustees in 2011, the year under review, 

gave SENS (Swiss Foundation for Waste Management) an 

ideal starting point for completing its tasks successfully and 

achieving the aims it has set itself. 

Overall, SENS can be pleased with its success in 2011. Our 

targeted publicity activities have enabled us to raise consumer 

awareness of the importance of e-Recycling even more. Our 

harmonised recycling standards and a study on optimising 

collection point remuneration have further strengthened our 

position as a leading take-back and recycling system. Like 

long-distance runners we shall keep up the pace until we have 

achieved our aims. 

Our competence, experience and 

reliability make us an indispensable 

partner for manufacturers and importers, 

recycling companies and the trade, 

as well as for local authorities, cantons 

and Switzerland itself. 

The issue that has greatly preoccupied not just SENS but the 

whole of the Swiss recycling industry over the last two years 

or so is the revision of the 1998 Ordinance on the Return and 

Recy c ling of Electrical and Electronic Appliances, VREG / 

ORAREEA for short. SENS has participated in the process as 

a member of the monitoring group created by the Bundesamt 

für Umwelt (BAFU – Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, 

FOEN). The pivotal change, and therefore the most critical of 

the planned measures, is the introduction of an obligation to 

pay an advance recycling fee (ARF), which should help solve 

the current problem of people ‘jumping on the bandwagon’ 

without paying. Until now the ordinance made the private 

sec tor entirely responsible for financing the return and recycling 

of electrical and electronic appliances. This has made 

4 SENS Annual Report 2011 

Andreas Röthlisberger 

SENS President 

Lawyer and senior partner at RVBS 

Partners, Attorneys at Law in 

Aarau, Switzerland, President of 

SENS, SENS International and 

the WEEE Forum. 

Switzerland the country that can boast to have the most streamlined 

statutory regulations by far in this sector in Europe. 

It was on the basis of this streamlined 

statutory framework that the two 

Swiss take-back systems, SENS and 

SWICO (Swiss Association for Information, 

Communication and Organisation), 

worked together to become European 

leaders in waste collection. 

By introducing an obligation to pay the ARF, the Federal Office 

for the Environment aims to safeguard the existing take-back 

systems and guarantee their future success. By becoming affiliated 

to a take-back system, manufacturers and importers can 

be exempted from the obligation to pay the ARF. SENS and all 

those involved intend to work hard to ensure that the revision of 

the VREG does not just result in more administration, but leads 

to effective, sustainable improvements in take-back systems. 

I am looking forward to facing these challenges together with 

the new Managing Director and his team and the members of 

the Board of Trustees. 


SENS President

For more than 20 years SENS has been making a crucial contribution 

to developing, promoting and ensuring the quality of 

take-back and recycling systems. As its new managing director 

I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to prepare 

SENS to face the future challenges on the market and further 

strengthen its pioneering position – based on its impressive 

achievements in the past. 

To accomplish this exciting task, I can draw on more than 

15 years’ experience working in industry and recycling. As a 

supply chain manager and in various other management posts 

I have acquired extensive experience in the industry, not least 

in the environment, recycling and waste disposal sectors. 

Preparing SENS to face future challenges means anticipating 

the trends in the dynamic market context of recycling, and 

acting accordingly. 

One of the industry-wide trends is 

the move away from individual services 

towards holistic solutions. 

Working closely together with our partners, we in the recycling 

industry are also focusing on the development of efficient, 

industry-wide solutions. 

In addition, international networks play an essential role in positioning 

and developing the businesses of SENS and its partners 

successfully. As a long-standing member of the WEEE 

Forum, the European Association of Electrical and Electronic 

Waste Take Back Systems, we are collaborating with the other 

40 members to continually improve the performance of our recycling 

systems. By presiding over the forum and taking part 

in the WEEELABEX (WEEE LABel of EXcellence) project we have 

been able to strengthen and develop the role of the forum as 

a platform for cooperation, dialogue and competence. 

Patrick Lampert 

SENS Managing Director 

Design engineer and economist. 

Renowned expert with many 

years of experience in managing 

recycling. 

Forewords by the President and Managing Director 

As a leading take-back and recycling system for electrical and 

electronic appliances, we would like to serve as an example 

and set standards for others. 

We are not willing to compromise at the 

expense of the environment and firmly 

believe in quality control across the board. 

We wish to make our partners enthusiastic about our projects 

and always achieve a little more than is expected. 

We are convinced we can further strengthen our position by 

means of a fundamental, targeted reformulation of our strategy. 

I am looking forward to moving SENS’ long-term projects 

forward to a successful conclusion together with the organisation’s 

Board of Trustees, employees and partners. 


SENS Managing Director 


How to slim down the Swiss 

rubbish bag even further. 

The diet that benefits you, 

the environment and your purse. 

Around 18 kilos of electrical and electronic appliances 

per person were sold in Switzerland in 2011, 

of which an impressive 17 kilos was taken back and 

recycled. This makes us, the Swiss, European 

champions in this category for yet another year. And, 

because even the best can be even better, our aim 

for 2012 is clear: every single appliance, along with 

both the toxins and the valuable raw materials 

it contains, must be taken out of our household 

waste and collected separately. 

6 SENS Annual Report 2011

Focus in 2012 : 

revision of the VREG 

Revision of the VREG / ORAREEA 

The revision of the VREG marks a major change in direction for the future of the Swiss 

recycling industry. To take full account of the interests of all the stakeholders and preserve 

the huge benefits of the present ordinance, SENS, together with SWICO and SLRS 

(Swiss Lighting Recycling Foundation), is taking an active role in the revision process. 

The Ordinance on the Return and Recycling of Electrical and 

Electronic Appliances (VREG / ORAREEA) requires dealers, 

manu facturers and importers to take back all the appliances 

in their product ranges free of charge, even if a customer does 

not purchase another appliance. The purchase price of all VREG 

appliances includes an advance recycling fee (ARF), based on 

voluntary solutions on the part of the industry. Consumers for 

their part are obliged to return appliances that have reached 

the end of their useful life and are not allowed to dispose of 

them as household waste or bulky items. Collecting, recycling 

and disposing of electrical and electronic appliances has hitherto 

been financed by the private sector: SENS and SWICO 

operate the recycling system. 

Why the revision? 

At the end of 2010 the Federal Office for the Environment 

decided to revise the VREG, which has been in existence since 

1998. The main reason prompting this decision was what is 

refer red to as the problem of people ‘jumping on the bandwagon’: 

since paying the ARF on electrical and electronic 

appliances is not a legal requirement, companies can take 

advan tage of the recycling and waste disposal network provi 

ded by the voluntary systems, without sharing the costs. 

Another reason for the revi sion lies in the recently completed 

revision of the relevant EC Directive (WEEE Directive). The 

Federal Office for the Envir onment aims to introduce the revised 

ordinance in 2013. 

To enable all those involved to take an active part in the revision 

process, the Federal Office for the Environment created 

a VREG monitoring group that represents all the groups of 

stakeholders: take-back and recycling systems, recycling companies, 

cantonal authorities, and associations. The moni toring 

group’s first task was to develop and discuss three possible 

ways of implementing the revision: introducing a general obligation 

like the one for battery recycling; retaining the voluntary 

collection, recycling and waste disposal orga nised by the private 

sector; introducing an obligation to pay the ARF, from 

which those companies affiliated to a private take-back and 

recycling system are exempt. Following detailed discussions, 

the monitoring group took the decision to pursue the last 

option further. 

Strengthening the tried and tested approach 

The introduction of an obligation to pay the ARF, from which 

those companies affiliated to private take-back and recycling 

systems are exempt, is intended to prevent the successful, 

established procedure financed by the private sector, which 

other countries consider exemplary, from being undermined by 

an uncooperative minority. At the technical level the focus is 

on bringing the Swiss solution (regarding relevant products, 

collection groups, etc.) into line with the European directives 

as far as possible. 

The Federal Office for the Environment and the monitoring 

group are continuing to concentrate their efforts on revising 

the VREG, which will provide a future-oriented, sustainable 

solution for the Swiss recycling industry. As a leading takeback 

and recycling system, SENS will carry on doing all it can 

to continue the success story of recent decades and further 

strengthen Switzerland’s pioneering role in recycling. 

VREG revision in brief 


Electronic Appliances (VREG / ORAREEA) has been in force since 1998. 

It aims to ensure that electric and electronic appliances are recycled 

in an environmentally friendly way. The VREG is being revised in order 

to help solve the problem of people ‘jumping on the bandwagon’, 

which is encouraged by the hitherto voluntary system of finance by the 

private sector, and ensure greater coherence and harmony between 

this and the European WEEE regulations that now apply. The main aim 

of the revision is to introduce an obligation to pay the ARF, from 

which those companies affiliated to a private take-back and recycling 

system are exempt. 


Interview 

e-Recycling: 

politics and society 

Mr Weibel, how much importance does Swiss society 

attach to resource efficiency? 

Benedikt Weibel: Resource efficiency is becoming increasingly 

important, for both Switzerland and the world as a whole. 

Using all our resources as efficiently as possible is now a priority. 

At the same time, recycling and waste management have 

also been gaining in importance for a good while now. 

“It is in times when raw materials grow 

ever scarcer that optimised, efficient 

processes become all the more significant 

in economic terms.” 

Whereas in the past people were primarily preoccupied with 

how to dispose of waste, in the last two decades there has 

been a very noticeable trend towards further developing ways 

of managing waste correctly, that is, recycling it and recovering 

and regenerating resources. The longer this necessary development 

is implemented, the more widespread it becomes. It 

is in times when raw materials grow ever scarcer that optimised, 

efficient processes become all the more significant in 

economic terms. 

In this context, the pioneering role of the Swiss householdappliances 

industry organised in the FEA deserves to be mentioned. 

Its measures, which were already implemented in the 

1980s, sought to recover materials right from the beginning. 


In which areas of mobility do you see a need for action as 

far as resource efficiency is concerned? 

First there are clear signs that the automotive industry has 

made huge strides in recent years when it comes to energy 

efficiency – thanks to strict regulatory requirements, as it should 

be noted. This process will continue unabated in the future. 

The railways have been resting on the laurels they owe to their 

relatively healthy energy balance for perhaps too long now. 

It seems quite a long time since they made great progress, for 

example in recouping energy when travelling downhill, compared 

to recent developments in automotive engineering. 

However, the latest studies on the rolling stock industry have 

revealed considerable further potential for saving energy. 

Yet the most efficient and cheapest way of enhancing energy 

efficiency in both private and public transport is by increasing 

occupancy. Two people in one car instead of two cars each 

carrying one person is the most intelligent way of maximising 

resource efficiency. Levelling out transport peaks would be 

equally efficient. 

“Yet the most efficient and cheapest way 

of enhancing energy efficiency in both 

private and public transport is by increasing 

occupancy.”

Benedikt Weibel 

Economist (Dr. rer. pol. [doctorate in Politics]), manager, mountain guide. 

From 1993 to 2006: Chairman of the Board of Directors of SBB (Swiss 

Federal Railways). From 2003 to 2006: President of the International Union 

of Railways. From 2003 to 2007: Member of the Board of Directors of the 

National Corporation of French Railways. From 2007 to 2008: Delegate of 

the Swiss Federal Council for EURO 2008. Today: Honorary Professor 

at the University of Bern, publicist, Chairman of the Swiss Association for 

Electrical Domestic and Commercial Appliances (FEA) and member of 

various executive boards. 

What will mobility look like in the future? 

I’m going to risk a prediction here: (even) more intelligent, 

networked online traffic information for all means of transport, 

including cars, will improve the flow of traffic in the future. 

How would you assess Switzerland’s policies on 

resource efficiency? What incentives are created? 

Resource efficiency is one of the pillars of the latest policies 

on nuclear-free energy in the medium term. The greatest potential 

lies in private and public transport as well as in renovating 

old buildings. 

“We should introduce an energy label for 

buildings, the same kind that we have 

had for electrical appliances and cars for 

some time now.” 

Whereas the process has been ongoing in transport for some 

years, there is hardly any sign of either extensive or sustainable 

developments in the renovation of buildings. We should introduce 

an energy label for buildings, the same kind that we have 

had for electrical appliances and cars for some time now. Incidentally, 

experience shows that bans are more efficient than 

incentives … 

Interview 

Are laws sufficient? 

Not in my opinion. The latest policies on energy are bringing 

about such fundamental changes that even legislation will be 

profoundly affected by them. 

What do you do personally in your daily life to conserve 

resources? 

I’m passionate about cycling. Bicycles are the most intelligent 

mode of transport when it comes to energy consumption. 

At the same time in my everyday private and professional life, 

I make sure I sort all my rubbish carefully and recycle used 

appliances correctly, be they electrical, electronic or entertainment 

appliances or batteries. 


Expertise 

e-Recycling: 

today and tomorrow 

SENS has continued to stand for the tried and tested, sustainable recycling of electrical 

and electronic appliances in 2011. However, ongoing discussions on future issues 

and solutions, for example for new products, remain a fundamental part of our work. 


Electronic Appliances (VREG / ORAREEA) has been in force 

in Switzerland since 1998. The ordinance, which is at present 

undergoing a process of revision, concerns the following appliances 

and appliance categories: 

• Large and small household appliances 

• Refrigerators and freezers 

• Tools, building, garden and hobby appliances 

(not including fixed industrial machinery) 

• Sport and leisure appliances, toys and games 

• Luminaires, lighting equipment 

(not including incandescent and halogen lamps) 

• Electronic entertainment appliances 

• Office, IT and communications technology 


SENS is responsible for the list of appliances, the tariffs for the 

advance recycling fee (ARF), funding, and the take-back and 

recycling system for large and small household appliances, 

refrigerators and freezers, tools, building, garden and hobby 

appliances, sport and leisure appliances and toys and games. 

The Stiftung Licht Recycling Schweiz (SLRS – Swiss Lighting 

Recycling Foundation) manages the system and charges the 

ARF for luminaires and lighting equipment. As a contract partner 

of SLRS, SENS uses its take-back and recycling system 

to collect, transport, recycle, monitor and report on the appliances. 

SWICO is responsible for electronic entertainment 

appliances and office, IT and communications technology. 

The current lists of ARF tariffs and appliances are available at 

� www.sens.ch or � www.slrs.ch and � www.swico.ch 

VREG ordinance: allocating tasks and responsibilities between business and the public sector 

Private individuals, 

companies, authorities 

(used appliances) 

• Pay the ARF at the 

point of sale, are 

entitled to information 

• Return the electrical 

appliances to be 

recycled to a recycling 

system via trade 

points of sale or official 

collection points 

Manufacturers / 

importers / trade / 

SENS collection points 

Manufacturers / 

importers 

• Sign contract 

• Invoice ARF 

• Distribute ARF 

• Inform the trade 

• Generate orders for 

collection 

• Delegate responsibility 

for recycling in 

compliance with the 

law to SENS 

Outlets 

• Collecte ARF 

• Take back used appliances 

free of charge 

• Inform customers 

• Generate orders for 

collection 

SENS recycling 

transport companies 

• Provide containers for 

collections 

• Collect filled containers 

• Transport them to 


companies 


companies 

• Recover recyclable 

materials 

• Dispose of harmful 

substances according 

to SENS requirements 

Independent regulatory 

bodies 

(quality) 

• Regulate the flow of 

materials and goods 

• Monitor environmental 

compatibility

The success of the SENS take-back and recycling system is 

based on a coordinated and contractually governed partnership 

and clearly allocated tasks and responsibilities. 

Future technologies require optimum recycling 

SENS not only uses successful, sustainable take-back and 

recycling methods for those appliances currently listed in the 

VREG, but also conducts ongoing studies on innovations, market 

requirements and developmental trends in the industry. 

The example of photovoltaics 

A relatively recent technology preoccupying the recycling 

industry at present is photovoltaics. Photovoltaics uses solar 

cells to convert light energy into electrical energy and is playing 

an increasingly important part in the future global energy 

supply. The industry is already important in economic terms 

in countries other than Switzerland and has created several 

thousand jobs and generated turnover totalling billions. 

Due to the comparatively long life of solar modules, around 

25 years, the industry has produced relatively little waste as 

yet. Since the first large solar power plants were installed early 

in the 1990s, a large number of photovoltaic modules will be 

nearing the end of their life cycle in the next few years. Moreover, 

the products, or rather the photovoltaic cells, contain 

indium, a rare metal (or rare earth element). Rare metals are 

indispensable ingredients of modern technologies on account 

of their special properties. The supply of rare metals is therefore 

crucial for manufacturing and further developing not only 

photovoltaics but also many other innovative technologies. It is 

thus essential to develop efficient recycling technologies for 

recovering these commodities. 

Challenges of new products 

To be able to complete the materials cycles with new products 

as well, and consistently recycle the metals brought into circulation, 

the used materials in question will have to be integrated 

into an appropriate take-back and recycling system. With this 

in mind, in January 2012 the European Parliament decided that 

Expertise 

in the future solar panels would also be included in the WEEE 

Directive. The EU intends to stipulate a specific collection rate 

by the end of 2012, aiming to extend and develop existing 

collection and recycling structures. As a member of the WEEE 

Forum, SENS is involved in developing structural requirements 

for a technically and financially feasible, efficient recycling 

system for rare earth elements. 

Rare metals in brief 

Electronic appliances contain minute quantities of many rare metals, 

also known as rare earth elements. These give the materials used 

important properties, enabling many of the functions of today’s appliances. 

Since the 1990s the quantity of rare metals used in industry 

has been continually increasing, and the available deposits of indium, 

antimony and silver, for example, could be exhausted in the foreseeable 

future. Indium is used in the manufacture of many products, 

including flat screens and the types of thin-film cells used in 

photovoltaics. SENS is working hard on further developing recycling 

technologies for recovering these metals efficiently. SENS functions 

as an information hub thanks to its extensive network of manufacturers 

and importers, recycling companies, scientists and researchers. 

Issues 

Rare metals: 

Unknown constant companions 

Download at 

� www.sens-international.org / en / think-tank / 


Key figures 

2011: key figures for the SENS recycling system in Switzerland 

System 2011 2010 Change 

Manufacturers and importers obliged to apply the ARF 720 713 1% 

Official SENS recycling companies 20 20 0% 

Official SENS collection points 436 436 0% 

Customers in the SENS online system 5,190 8,685 – 40% 

Collection orders via the SENS online system 22,119 22,299 – 1% 

Credit notes for waste disposal services 5,077 5,142 – 1% 

Recycling 

Small electronic appliances (small household appliances, 

building, garden, hobby appliances, toys and games) 

Volume in tonnes 18,600 17,900 4% 

Via official SENS collection points 86% 83% 4% 

Through trade1) 11% 14% – 21% 

Returned direct to the official SENS recycling companies 

Large electronic appliances 

3% 3% 0% 

Large household appliances by item 523,900 524,444 0% 

Refrigeration, freezing, air-conditioning and compressor appliances by item 369,300 349,867 6% 

Volume in tonnes 2) 45,100 47,000 – 4% 


Through trade1) 8% 13% – 38% 


Lighting equipment 

2% 2% 0% 

Volume in tonnes 1,114 1,156 – 3% 


Through trade1) 14% 13% 8% 


Luminaires 

6% 9% – 33% 

Volume in tonnes 

Non-VREG material (not financed via the ARF) 

2,205 1,923 15% 

Volume in tonnes 8,525 3,500 144% 

Total volume recycled within the SENS system in tonnes 73,400 71,500 3% 

Total recycled per head 3) in kilo 

Volume of SWICO appliances processed via the SENS system in tonnes 

9.32 9.18 2% 

Office, entertainment, photographic, telecommunications equipment 

Financing 

2,283 2,390 – 4% 

Revenue in the SENS system In CHF million 34.2 31.6 8% 

Expenditure for recycling, including checking, public relations In CHF million 32.5 34.0 – 4% 

Withdrawn / set aside for future recycling In CHF million 0.1 – 2.4 – 104% 

Expenditure for SENS administration In CHF million 1.7 1.6 6% 

Total costs for recycling In CHF / kg 0.44 0.49 – 10% 

1) These figures do not include numbers whose handling was carried out through collection orders from third parties 

(e.g. collection points, transport companies). 

2) Average weight of large household appliances in 2010: 59 kg per item; in 2011: 54 kg per item; average weight of 

refrigeration, freezing, air-conditioning and compressor appliances in 2010: 46 kg per item; in 2011: 45 kg per item 

3) Per head in 2010: 7,785,800; in 2011: 7,870,100 


Swiss francs for recycling in 2011 

34.1% 

Recycling costs including shopping basket analysis 

2010: 30%, change: 14% 

28.6% 

Transport costs 

2010: 32.5%, change: – 12% 

0.1% 

Remuneration for peripheral tasks 

(local communities) 

2010: 0.2%, change: – 50% 

2.6% 

Public relations 

2010: 2.6%, change: 0% 

1.0% 

Monitoring 

2010: 1.0%, change: 0% 

4.9% 

SENS administration 

2010: 4.3%, change: 14% 

2.7% 

VEG (prepaid disposal charge) on batteries 

2010: 3.0%, change: – 10% 

26.0% 

Official SENS collection points 

2010: 26.4%, change: – 2% 

Francs for recycling 


Interview 

e-Recycling: 

consumption and trends 

Mr Heim, what are the current trends in consumer 

behaviour and the use of natural resources? 

Thomas Heim: The medium-term trends in the consumption 

of most of the major resources are rising all over the world. 

And when I refer to resources I’m including both materials and 

energy. As a rule the savings achieved by means of more efficient 

technologies and more recycling are offset by incre ased 

consumption. Overall, as regards our environmental footprint, 

we are living beyond our means. Whereas here in Switzerland 

a great deal has been done to save energy in recent decades, 

efforts to recycle materials are limited to relatively few types of 

waste. Hence, particularly when it comes to the efficient use 

of materials – plastics, metals and chemicals – there remains 

a great deal of untapped potential, which technical innovations 

and changes in consumer behaviour could exploit. 

“As a rule the savings achieved by means 

of more efficient technologies and 

more recycling are offset by increased 

consumption.” 

I don’t doubt that the relevant innovations are ‘doable’. The real 

question is whether our economy can be adapted to reducing 

the depletion of natural resources. So far no one has been able 

to demonstrate in practice that ‘green growth’ is feasible – the 

necessary, radical separation of resource consumption from 

eco nomic growth is apparent merely in approach. However, I’m 

more optimistic in this respect than many of our representatives 

from the business community. ‘Business as usual’ is definitely 

the wrong way of going about solving the resource problem. 

How can we create incentives to make consumers 

behave responsibly and recognise the need to use 

resources efficiently? 

On the one hand, it’s the consumers who decide what to 

consume, but first and foremost it is the producers who make 

the products that throughout their life necessitate the consum 

ption of more or fewer resources. Quite a lot is already 

being done at both levels by informing people and through 


voluntary initiatives, based on marketing considerations of 

course. However, we still need to increase our efforts. For 

example, customers can be better educated as to the effects 

on the environment and the depletion of resources these 

products cause. Large companies can use their market power 

more effectively to demand more efficient use of resources 

throughout the supply chain. Moreover, we should consider 

more unconventional ideas: people could be allowed to buy 

a notebook made of aluminium only if they take back the same 

quantity of aluminium, copper, etc., in return. Or a company 

could obtain maximum added value from a certain quantity of 

copper instead of from a man hour as is usually done now. 

Ideas like these may encounter opposition, but it is important 

to remember that genuine innovations often spring from what 

are initially crazy ideas which are neither taken seriously nor 

thought through. 

“Large companies can use their market 

power more effectively to demand more 

efficient use of resources throughout 

the supply chain.” 

Do we need statutory regulations to ensure we treat 

resources responsibly or can manufacturers set trends, 

for example by making products easy to recycle, 

or optimising product design? 

Opinions are just as divided on this issue as ever. Some 

consider the manufacturers responsible players who consider 

the challenges of the robust world of business, including the 

resource problem, and always decide in favour of the good 

of the whole. Others view manufacturers as if they were idiots 

who gobble up resources, only to end up in tears when these 

run out. Presumably the reality lies somewhere between the 

two extremes. Bureaucratic solutions are not what I would 

recommend to improve this situation. Tailor-made regulations 

could indeed lead to better conditions and consequently 

favour those companies at the top end of the distribution 

curve. However, the existing statutory instruments are directed 

at resource efficiency only in part. This should be changed

systematically, by prescribing not so much the means to 

achieving the ends as the ends themselves. 

“The existing statutory instruments are 

directed at resource efficiency only in part. 

This should be changed systematically.” 

However, the state has other options, which it has not made 

enough use of so far. Education and innovation can make 

crucial contributions to solving the problem of resources. 

Whereas some highly successful educational opportunities in 

this area have already been created at the level of Universities 

of Applied Sciences, we are still waiting in vain for a focused 

research and development programme from the state itself. 

“Education and innovation can make 

crucial contributions to solving the problem 

of resources.” 

But companies can still improve their management of resources 

to their own advantage, without the state having to intervene. 

Very few businesses have accounting systems that enable 

them to allocate resource and environmental costs directly to 

the individual products incurring them. These costs are usually 

allocated to overheads, with the result that ‘resource-friendly’ 

products indirectly subsidise ‘resource-hostile’ products, 

which then become cheaper. This encourages poor investment 

decisions, with the incorrect allocation of costs producing a 

situation where the savings potential of behaviour that con - 

serves resources is underestimated. 

What do you personally do in your daily life 

to conserve resources? 

I try not to do too many things at once and concentrate my 

options on a few, efficient measures. Two years ago we had 

our house totally renovated along energy-efficient lines and 

are now about to replace our oil-fired heating system. As far as 

food is concerned, I am mindful of where foods come from, and 

I don’t eat a lot of meat. Other ways of conserving resources 

Interview 

Thomas Heim 

Dr. sc. nat. (Doctor of Natural Science) ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of 

Technology in Zurich), Director of the Centre for Resource Efficiency (ZEF) 

of the Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW) (University of Applied 

Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland). Managing Director of the 

Effizienzagentur Schweiz (Swiss Agency for Efficiency). Expert in environmental 

and resource efficiency, cleaner production and clean technology. 

without foregoing any comforts are recycling, composting and 

not printing out texts. It’s much more difficult when it comes 

to mobility: travel is without doubt my environmental weakness 

– I do get a season ticket for this though. 

Swiss Agency for Efficiency 

The Swiss Agency for Efficiency is an internationally operating planning 

and consultancy company. A spin-off of the University of Applied 

Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, it offers sustainable solutions 

for enhancing the efficiency of companies and institutions, by 

reducing their energy consumption and optimising the flow of materials, 

processes and products. 


Marketing 

From now on, disposing of 

electrical waste is totally cool. 

e-recycling.ch 

To raise awareness and distribute information among end 

customers, SENS and the Swiss Lighting Recycling Foundation 

(SLRS) founded the e-recycling.ch label in 2010, and 

conducted an efficient and targeted campaign to make it 

widely known to the general public. The e-Recycling campaign 

was successfully continued in 2011. Publicity in 2011 focused 

on printed and online advertisements, a teaching folder for 

schools, and roadshows. 

From February 2011, a publicity campaign in the printed and 

online editions of the free Swiss newspaper 20 Minuten 

(20 minutes) enabled SENS and SLRS to reach about 1.8 million 

readers a day and more than 19 million online users a 

month. In addition, in 2011 SENS launched publicity campaigns 

to coincide with the official Swiss moving dates (end of March 

and end of September) and other significant consumption and 

recycling dates, such as those around Easter, Halloween and 

Christmas, as well as exclusive competitions with attractive 

environmentally friendly prizes. 

The aim of the e-Recycling teaching folder is to raise awareness 

among learners on how to deal with everyday electrical 

and electronic appliances in an environmentally friendly way. 

It helps teachers by providing them with learning modules 

and teachers’ notes for working on the topic at junior and 


Appliances that gave up 

the ghost reappear, recycled. 

The real horror lurks in the 

rubbish bags. 

Publicity: 

sustainable measures 

Marketing 2011 

By conducting imaginative and 

targeted campaigns, we have again 

been able to make the e-recycling.ch 

label more firmly established and 

raise the collection rate for electrical 

and electronic appliances in 2011. 

By using efficient, long-term publicity measures, SENS has again increased both 

the take-back rates for electrical and electronic appliances and their environmentally 

correct recycling on a sustainable basis in 2011. 

senior secondary level and is available for free on the website 

� www.e-recycling.ch 

The e-Recycling Roadshow includes six attractive exhibits with 

interchangeable posters that contain information on various 

recycling issues and topics, such as lighting equipment, material 

cycles, building and garden equipment, toys and games, 

moving house, etc. Four roadshow exhibitions are available in 

German-speaking Switzerland and two in French-speaking 

Switzerland. Numerous local communities, collection points 

and recycling companies have taken advantage of the free 

roadshow offer that can be booked directly from SENS and 

includes professional support if required. 

The publicity measures in 2011 established the e-Recycling 

label even more firmly. A great deal of positive feedback shows 

that SENS can communicate its message about what sustainability 

means through its e-Recycling offers. 

Contact 

Should you have any questions on SENS in general or our various 

promotional offers and information material, do not hesitate to contact 

Ms Teresa Medaglia, SENS Marketing Manager, who will be happy to 

help you (teresa.medaglia @ sens.ch or Tel. + 41 43 255 20 00).

Suisse Toy 2011 

Between 28 September and 

2 October 2011 SENS employees 

demonstrated the benefits of 

recycling to the many visitors to the 

stand at Suisse Toy in a fun way. 


For the fourth time, SENS used its participation in the largest toy 

trade fair in Switzerland, Suisse Toy, to raise awareness among 

dealers, buyers and visitors on how to recycle what is considered 

waste, and toys and games, in an informed and fun way. 

Together with the Spielwaren Verband Schweiz (SVS) (Swiss 

Toy Association), SENS is working to promote the environmentally 

correct recycling of toys containing electrical and electronic 

components. Suisse Toy provides an ideal platform 

for alerting both the trade and the general public to these further 

specific areas in which SENS operates. 

At Suisse Toy 2011, SENS (in partnership with the toys and 

games companies Carletto and Knikits) handed out items 

considered waste to children and adults, who then used these 

materials to build imaginative cardboard robots, dragons and 

many other things. The visitors to the stand were able to find 

out how useful recycling could be carried out in a fun, handson 

way. By taking part in an informative, exciting e-Recycling 

quiz and conversations with SENS professionals, the guests 

were also able to discuss the issue of recycling in detail, in 

particular how to recycle electronic toys and games. The 

teaching campaigns were supplemented by enjoyable attractions, 

such as bull riding, rifle shooting and a photo shoot with 

SENSI, the SENS mascot. 

Marketing 

The impressive trade show presentation attracted a great deal 

of attention: around 6,000 visitors to the stand enabled SENS 

to achieve yet another significant increase in the number of 

active contacts with dealers, buyers and private individuals. 

Its success justifies SENS in its intention to participate at this 

key industry gathering again in 2012 and secure the support of 

more partners and consumers for its mission. 


Suisse Toy is the largest toy and game trade fair in Switzerland. It has 

taken place on the Bernexpo trade fair and exhibition area every year 

since 2000. Suisse Toy welcomed around half a million visitors during 

the last 10 years. SENS has been participating at Suisse Toy since 2008 

in order to raise awareness among the trade and private individuals 

about recycling electrical and electronic toys and games. For more 

information see � www.suissetoy.ch 


Manufacturers, importers and dealers 

Processes: 

ongoing optimisation 

Manufacturers, importers and dealers make a major contribution to the success 

of SENS take-back and recycling systems. In 2011 the number of these key contractual 

partners and participants was again increased. 

To fulfil the statutory requirements of the VREG efficiently, more 

and more manufacturers, importers and dealers are signing up 

to the SENS system, as contractual partners or participants, 

becoming part of the successful ARF model. 

Decision on a new appliance category 

The ARF Commission is responsible for reviewing and setting 

the ARF tariffs every year, and for updating the lists of ARF 

appliances. In 2011 the SENS Head Office was asked to work 

closely together with the Commission to evaluate the introduction 

of a new category of appliances: those weighing up to 

250 grams. The evaluation was based on the results of a survey 

completed and returned by 136 participating con trac tual 

partners (which corresponds to a response rate of over 65 per 

cent): the evaluation showed that introducing a new category 

such as this would ensure that there was closer correspondence 

between the ARF tariff and the purchase price. The rate 

of the ARF for the new category will be fixed during 2012 and 

an application submitted to the foundation’s Board of Trustees. 

The new category will be introduced in 2013 at the earliest. 

ARF success model 

The ARF revenues finance recycling on a pay-as-you-go basis. 

ARF 

SENS funds 


Cash flow Materials flow 

Manufacturer, importer 

ARF 

Trade 

ARF 

Consumer 

Payment 

Payment 

Payment 

Optimising the service processes 

Introducing an online database is a logical step towards an 

efficient holistic solution for our collaboration with our partners: 

the existing process whereby the manufacturers and importers 

send SENS the lists in which the sales figures per item and 

category are recorded in writing once or twice a year, will be 

replaced by a more efficient, more user-friendly online process. 

In close cooperation with our partners and taking their needs 

into account, the web-based solution will be tested in a pilot 

project from 1 July 2012. In the future, online processing of the 

invoices will not only optimise our service processes, but also 

make a major contribution to simplifying statistical data collection 

and analysis, and to increasing the frequency of effective 

invoices. 

Collection point 

Transport company 

Recycling company

I can take you 

from here to Adelaide. 

Would you have thought your used 

fridge could go so far? 

More than 370,000 cooling appliances were recycled 

via the SENS system in 2011. Just one correctly 

recycled refrigerator reduces CO 2 emissions by more 

than 2,800 kilos of CO 2 equivalents. This corresponds 

to the volume of CO 2 a car would produce if it 

travelled from Zurich to South Australia, measuring 

a good 15,000 kilometres. 


Collection points 

Economic efficiency: 

more efficient collection 

Collecting electrical and electronic appliances is the cornerstone of all the areas in 

which SENS operates. A survey on the costs of the SENS collection points has enabled 

SENS to achieve a sound basis for developing more appropriate collection point 

remunerations in 2011. 

Private individuals can return their electrical and electronic 

appliances free of charge at the numerous SENS collection 

points. Returning them to these points guarantees they will 

be recycled in a regulated, environmentally appropriate and 

profes sional way in the SENS recycling and disposal system. 

In turn the collection points are remunerated for receiving, storing 

and transporting the electrical and electronic appliances. 

The remun eration rate is reviewed annually. 

Sufficient remuneration 

The collection points are some of SENS’ most important 

partners. To reassess the essential services of the collection 

points, taking into account their different requirements – size, 

location, organisational structure, quantity of goods collected, 

etc. – more appropriately, SENS conducted a survey of collection 

point costs in 2011. 

Survey on collection point costs 

To collect data, SENS sent out questionnaires to a random 

selection of half of the existing SENS collection points. Out of 

225 questionnaires 123 were returned: a satisfying response 

rate of more than 50 per cent. In the first part of the questionnaire 

those collection points taking part answered questions on 

general points, such as location, opening times, organisational 

structure, etc. In the second part they gave information on their 

current approaches to remuneration, the services they offered, 

space requirements and time taken to receive and store the 

appliances, employee wages and cost of the operating area 

per square metre. SENS is currently working on a detailed 

evaluation of the data. 

The intention is to re-evaluate the importance of the collection 

points, both within the network of partners and in terms of how 

end customers perceive them, by fundamentally revising and 

redefining the remuneration model on the basis of the survey 

results. Above-average performance and quality, especially 

regarding enhanced attractiveness for end customers, should be 

financially rewarded. Hence factors such as customer ser vice, 

provision of support, opening times, cleanliness, orderliness 


and structure, data quality and the question of how up to date 

the collection points are in terms of remuneration are taken into 

account. The process of introducing the new remuneration 

model, in which representatives from the collection points are 

participating, is due to be completed in 2013. 

Initial results of the survey on collection point costs 

The distribution of the SENS collection points according to turnover 

shows that around a third of the collection points collects a relatively 

small quantity of SENS goods. This segment poses the greatest 

challenge in terms of optimisation. Moreover, the results of the survey 

indicate that with collection points above a certain size, the selection 

of types of containers used, e.g. containers or pallets, influences turnover. 

Investigations also reveal that there may be potential for improvement 

at the interfaces between collection points and transport 

companies. Collection points which do not transport the goods 

themselves often carry out preliminary work that is in fact the responsibility 

of the transport companies.

Starting point: distribution of the SENS 

collection points according to turnover 

The diagram illustrates the distribution of the SENS collection points 

according to turnover from collection point remunerations. 

200,000 

180,000 

160,000 

140,000 

120,000 

100,000 

80,000 

60,000 

40,000 

20,000 

0 

50 100 150 200 250 

Type of organisational structure 

and company 

The diagram shows that there is an even balance between collection 

points operated by the private sector and collection points belonging 

to local communities / municipal authorities. 

Community and municipal 


Private 

Supra-regional 


Private, contracted with 

public disposal system 

Supra-regional and 

community 

0 7 14 21 28 

35 

Assessing the approaches 

to remuneration 


The diagram shows that about 50 per cent of those asked considered 

the current SENS and SLRS approach to remuneration appropriate or 

merely adequate. 

18.87% appropriate 

33.96% just adequate 

17.92% just inadequate 

29.25% inadequate 

Share of SENS goods (volume) 

in the total volume 

The diagram shows that the share of SENS goods in the total 

volume of transported goods is between 2 and 15 per cent for most 

of the businesses surveyed. 

> 50% 

16 to 50% 

2 to 15% 

< 2% 

0 10 20 30 40 

50 


Recycling companies 

Networks: 

achieving more together 

Developed under the leadership of SENS, the financial remuneration model for recycling 

companies is proving to be reliable even in these economically challenging times. 

Annual SENS recycling meetings give the recycling companies the opportunity to learn 

about and discuss this and other key issues. 

Remuneration and fluctuations in materials prices 

For about three years now the remuneration for recycling services 

has been based on the stock exchange values for iron, 

copper and aluminium, with iron having the greatest influence. 

Accordingly, high values result in low SENS remunerations and 

vice versa. The fluctuations in materials prices in 2011 had an 

immediate impact on the flexible SENS remuneration system 

for recycling. 

After commodities prices reached an all-time high at the end 

of 2008, the commodities bubble burst and prices collapsed. 

Their subsequent recovery forced commodities prices up at 

first until early in 2011, although the prices fell slightly again 

during the year. Consequently, the SENS recycling companies 

received less by way of remuneration per unit (item or kilo) early 

in 2011 than by the end of the year. This trend was further 

reinforced by the marked revaluation of the Swiss franc in relation 

to the euro and the dollar. 2011 was therefore a year that 

affirmed the success of the remuneration model developed by 

Iron 

Stock exchange values taken as a basis 

Shredded steel scrap BDSV (Association of German Steel Recycling 

and Disposal Companies) (E4) in euros per tonne 

450 

400 

350 

300 

250 

200 

150 

100 

50 

0 

01 / 04 01 / 05 01 / 06 01 / 07 01 / 08 01 / 09 01 / 10 01 / 11 01 / 12 01 / 04 01 / 05 01 / 06 01 / 07 01 / 08 01 / 09 01 / 10 01 / 11 01 / 12 


SENS and the SENS recycling companies since it proved that 

the model still worked under unfavourable market conditions. 

To ensure the model continues to function and prove reliable, 

the necessary parameters, for example the annual volume of 

appliances to be processed, are updated annually. 

Recycling company meetings 

The annual recycling company meetings that SENS first instituted 

around 20 years ago provide an important platform for 

SENS and the SENS recycling companies to exchange information, 

experiences and ideas, and promote effective, efficient 

teamwork among the partners. 

The 2011 meeting was held at V-Zug AG, based in Zug, 

Switzerland, a well-known producer of household appliances 

for kitchens and laundries. V-Zug AG has been collaborating 

successfully with the SENS recycling companies for many 

years. Hans Mazzoleni, manager of the service and marketing 

department for the Swiss market at V-Zug AG, is also actively 

Copper 


Copper in US dollars per tonne 

1,000 

900 

800 

700 

600 

500 

400 

300 

200 

100 

0

involved in the continual further development of the SENS 

recycling system as a member of the ARF Committee. 

Following a welcome from the V-Zug AG employees in the 

Zugorama, the large number of representatives from SENS 

recyc ling companies heard about the key issues and results 

of the previous year. The volume of electrical and electronic 

appliances to be processed had risen slightly compared to 

2010. The SENS system was being continually further developed. 

New products and technologies, e.g. LED lighting equipment, 

which is gradually replacing conventional incandescent 

light bulbs, required new recycling methods and ordinances. 

In the next few years many LEDs would be reaching the end 

of what is a very long useful life in comparison to that of incandescent 

light bulbs. Within the framework of the WEEELABEX 

project, in 2011 the decision was taken to include used LEDs 

in the recycling of lighting equipment. The handling and recycling 

processes were being adapted for High Intensity Gas 

Discharge (HID) lamps. This meant the lamps could continue 

Aluminium 


Aluminium in US dollars per tonne 

3,500 

3,150 

2,800 

2,450 

2,100 

1,750 

1,400 

1,050 

700 

350 

0 

01 / 04 01 / 05 01 / 06 01 / 07 01 / 08 01 / 09 01 / 10 01 / 11 01 / 12 


to be processed in a way that complied with the law. Attendees 

were also informed that the number of tumble dryers containing 

compressors would rise from 2012. The reason is that only 

tumble dryers with compressors comply with the tech nical 

require ments at present. Working with the Board of the Fachverband 

VREG-Entsorgung (FVG) (Professional Asso ci ation 

for VREG [Electrical and Electronic Appliances] Disposal), 

SENS had been able to examine the method for determining 

the average weights of refrigerators and freezers, air-conditioning 

and compressor equipment and large household 

appliances during the year and confirm its reliability. At the end 

of the information session the participants were also notified 

about the current changes to the SENS and SWICO technical 

requirements. 

After lunch and some lively discussions the representatives 

of the SENS recycling companies had the opportunity to visit 

the V-Zug AG production facilities. The seamless sequence 

of production processes, the halls heated by surplus heat from 

the incinerators and the automatic high-bay warehouse with 

solar panels for generating electricity made a lasting impression 

on the visitors. At this point we would like to thank V-Zug AG 

very much indeed for the hospitality we received; we are looking 

forward to further informative recycling company meetings 

in the future. 

Recycling company meetings at a glance 

It was nearly 20 years ago that SENS instituted what are known as 

recycling company meetings. Since then a recycling company meeting 

has taken place every year, enabling the SENS recycling companies to 

exchange information, experiences and ideas, and promoting effective, 

efficient teamwork among the partners. The meetings include presentations 

and discussion platforms as well as the traditional visit to one 

of the manufacturers or importers affiliated to the SENS take-back 

and recycling system. 

Recycling company meeting in 2012 

Wednesday, 14 November 

All day 


Interview 

e-Recycling: 

money and mind 

Mr Varnholt, as a financial expert, how do you assess the 

value of natural resources? 

Burkhard Varnholt: Natural resources are the Achilles heel of 

our global existence, so recovering raw materials is just as 

impor tant as extracting them in the first place. In my opinion, saying 

that our generation is now experiencing the worst economic 

crisis since time immemorial is an exaggeration. Of course we 

face huge challenges but we should have more faith in the ability 

of economies to adapt. However, the crisis will certainly deepen 

if – and I’m deliberately expressing this as a condition – we do 

not succeed in reducing our fatal dependency on scarce natural 

resources. Resource efficiency is therefore an issue that 

profoundly affects us all, regardless of the industry we work in. 

“Natural resources are the Achilles heel of 

our global existence.” 

How can we create incentives so that using our resources 

efficiently becomes the normal way to behave? 

If nature could choose, it would use the market economy 

to protect itself. Resources must actually be priced according 

to how scarce they are if people are to change the way they 

behave. The problem is that the state frequently still sets the 

prices of resources at far too low a level. This encourages 

people to continue to waste resources. Take water for instance: 

water is far too cheap in most countries in the world, in some 

it is even free for the majority of the population. 

Do you detect a change of attitude in your business 

environment, a new investment mentality? 

Yes, definitely. In this connection we are at what the sociologist 

Malcolm Gladwell would call a tipping point. That means 


we have reached the point at which many investors all over the 

world have suddenly become aware of the problem. We are 

poised for the transition from the era of nuclear and fossil fuels 

to that of renewables. The crises in the recent months and 

years have contributed to this: the nuclear catastrophe in Fukushima, 

the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the crises in the 

European Mediterranean countries, the global financial crisis. 

These events mark a turning point that has prompted people 

all over the world to think differently. I see investors searching 

harder than ever for a holistic, sustainable investment principle, 

and doing so in all sectors. I am convinced that in five years’ 

time, sustainable investment will be the new standard. 

“I see investors searching harder than 

ever for a holistic, sustainable investment 

principle.” 

How do you assess the growth potential of renewable 

sources of energy in this context? And how do you use the 

scarcity of resources as a sustainable business model? 

Renewable sources of energy will easily be recording doubledigit 

growth rates in the next 10 years. Solar energy and wind 

power technologies will become established. What will be 

crucial for investors will be investing in the companies that can 

provide the most profitable technological products or services. 

“Renewable sources of energy will easily 

be recording double-digit growth rates in 

the next 10 years.” 

As regards sustainable investment it is important to understand 

that this must mean sustainable investment across the

Burkhard Varnholt 

Economist, chief investment officer and head of Asset Management, 

Products & Sales at Sarasin & Cie AG bank. Former lecturer at 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stern School of Business, 

New York University. Author of numerous books and articles. 

Founder of the Kids of Africa village. 

board. What matters is investing in companies that implement 

sustainable concepts which integrate the economic, social 

and environmental dimensions. Companies such as these 

achieve a profitability that is sustainable. They also maintain a 

healthy balance between their business models and their 

operations on the one hand, and the expectations of the society 

in which they operate on the other. Not least, they treat 

resources responsibly. 

“The challenges are in the major trends 

towards globalisation in the threshold 

countries and the huge ecological footprint 

that our lifestyle today leaves behind.” 

What do you personally do in your daily life 

to conserve resources? 

Never enough to make the world a better place. I believe 

that, alongside the recycling initiatives, a signal must be sent 

to the next generation. This is what will determine policies 

for using the market economy to protect nature properly. The 

challenges are in the major trends towards globalisation in 

the threshold countries and the huge ecological footprint that 

our lifestyle today leaves behind. Every individual can affect 

his / her personal footprint through his / her own behaviour as a 

consumer, not least by doing simple things, such as recycling 

used appliances properly. 

Interview 

Domino: manual for a sustainable world 

With the aid of 201 specific measures, the manual explains how citizens, 

the state and companies can together set out on the same path towards 

a world better prepared to face the future. The focus is on our own 

daily routines – and on the countless dominoes we move as a result. 

Authors: Christopher Blaufelder, 

Stephan Siegrist, Burkhard Varnholt, 

Gerd Folkers 

Published by: W.I.R.E., the think tank of 

Sarasin & Cie AG bank, 

the Collegium Helveticum of ETH 

(Swiss Federal Institute of Technology 

in Zurich) and the University of Zurich 

Publishers: Verlag Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 

Frankfurter Allgemeine Buch 


Essential and rare: 

the gold of the future. 

Rigorous recycling is the only way 

of ensuring a high-tech future. 

Electrical and electronic appliances contain various 

rare metals. However, the natural deposits of what 

are known as rare metals or rare earth elements will 

be exhausted throughout the world in just a few 

years. Indium, for example, is essential for flat screens 

and the thin-film cells used in photovoltaics. This 

is why SENS is already investigating the development 

of recycling technologies which will ensure the efficient 

recovery of as much of these metals as possible. 


Leadership: 

setting standards 

The WEEE Forum, the European Association of Electrical and Electronic Waste Take 

Back Systems, is participating in a four-year project aimed at defining the quality standard 

for recycling these appliances. SENS is actively involved in this important project. 

The WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive 

is the European directive on the environmentally friendly recycling 

of the ever-increasing volume of electrical and electronic 

scrap. The WEEE Forum unites 41 European take-back and 

recycling systems for electrical and electronic appliances, which 

implement the WEEE Directive by taking account of ‘producer 

responsibility’ on the part of the manufacturers and importers 

in their respective countries. SENS has been a member of this 

association since it was founded and the SENS President has 

been President of the WEEE Forum for four years. 

WEEELABEX: the European standard for the recycling of 

electrical and electronic appliances 

WEEELABEX stands for WEEE LABel of EXcellence and is 

partly financed by the EU (LIFE plus), which contributes 50 per 

cent. For three years now the members of the WEEE Forum 

have been working hard in various working groups to define 

a European standard for the recycling of electrical and electronic 

appliances. Now we are at last within reach of our goal: 

by the end of 2012 the project will have been completed and 

the organisation in charge of implementing the directive established 

and operational. The intention is to transfer WEEELABEX 

as the standard to CENELEC, the European Committee for 

Electrotechnical Standardisation, with the aim of formulating a 

European (EN) standard from this, which will in the end be 

bin ding on all EU countries. Harmonising the recycling standards 

in this way will make a vital contribution to ensuring that 

the same requirements for the recycling of electrical and electronic 

appliances will apply within Europe, creating in turn a 

level playing field within the recycling industry. 

More market transparency, more efficient processes 

What are the advantages of a European standard for the Swiss 

recycling industry? It produces far-reaching synergies, not 

only within Europe, but also between Europe and Switzerland. 

Standardisation ensures more market transparency in all the 

countries involved. Moreover, the Swiss take-back systems 

will benefit from the fact that the auditing processes can be 

structured and implemented just as before to a great extent. 

Quality 

Consequently, the Bundesamt für Umwelt (BAFU – Swiss 

Federal Office for the Environment, FOEN) will take account of 

the WEEELABEX when implementing the revision of the VREG: 

for example with regard to the way the appliance categories 

are structured or when incorporating the Technical Rules into 

national legislation or defining the latest technologies. The 

success of the quality standards we have produced jointly 

demonstrates that in today’s global context even relatively 

small take-back systems such as SENS can make a vital contribution 

to ensuring a visionary course in future. 

The next step involves identifying the conditions needed to 

implement the standards easily and regulate them efficiently in 

the different countries. This includes defining and implemen ting 

the auditing guidelines and training the auditors appropriately. 

Creating organisational structures that will guarantee the neutrality 

and independence of the commissioned auditors is indeed 

important. Last but not least, the members of the WEEE Forum 

will need to address the issue as to whether a standard defined 

in this way for Europe could also be applied globally and 

so create clear, uniform processes throughout the world. 

Specialist report for download 

The 2011 specialist report by the technical auditors, TK-SENS 

and TK-SWICO, will be available for download at no charge from 

� www.sens.ch from mid-2012. 


Interview 

e-Recycling: 

innovation and progress 

Mr Palmer, what is the aim of your Solar Taxi, 

Zero Emission Race and WAVE projects? 

Louis Palmer: The aim of my projects is to raise public 

awareness of electromobility, sustainable means of transport, 

renewable sources of energy and resource efficiency. We wish 

to demonstrate that today’s technologies are already mature, 

reliable and suitable for everyday use. And we would like 

people all over the world to know that there is absolutely no 

reason why we should not use solar energy, wind power and 

electric cars routinely. 

“The aim of my projects is to raise public 

awareness of electromobility, sustainable 

means of transport, renewable sources 

of energy and resource efficiency.” 

Your Solar Taxi is powered by solar cells alone. Are you 

setting new trends as regards resource efficiency here? 

Yes, they go hand in hand. Today entire sectors are working 

on developing new technologies and innovations. Recovering 

and recycling what are sometimes rare raw materials, which 

are required for environmentally friendly technologies and products, 

is essential if we are to be capable of further developing 

and establishing them. For this we need efficient recycling 

technologies. 

What do you consider to be the biggest challenges to 

ensuring resource efficiency and sustainable development 

in the next few years? 

The biggest challenge in the next few years lies in the global 

financial and debt crisis. I fear this crisis might force concerns, 

such as sustainability, protecting the environment and resource 


efficiency, to take a back seat, and that, given the economic 

challenges, sustainable development might falter in these areas. 

Today it is more important than ever to focus people’s attention 

on these existential issues and to redouble our efforts to 

ensure we no longer live at the expense of future generations. 

“Today it is more important than ever to 

focus people’s attention on existential 

issues such as sustainability and resource 

efficiency.” 

Do we need legal sanctions for this or can people be 

persuaded to use resources efficiently in other ways? 

Although I do detect a huge change in attitude as I travel 

around the world, I do not think we can enhance resource 

efficiency as much as we should purely by relying on voluntary 

initiatives and goodwill. We must bear in mind that mankind is 

in the process of destroying the foundations of its existence. In 

my opinion we need the state to support environmentally 

friendly technologies by subsidising or diverting money into 

them. For example, petrol prices could be raised and the resulting 

revenues channelled into the companies that are developing 

and marketing solar energy and wind power technologies. 

These technologies are still too expensive today. It is absolutely 

essential that both the production costs and the costs of 

recycling used raw materials are reduced. 

“In my opinion we need the state to support 

environmentally friendly technologies by 

subsidising or diverting money into them.”

Louis Palmer 

Teacher, environmental campaigner, solar pioneer. Initiator of numerous 

projects for supporting and promoting emission-free electromobility. 

Received the UN flagship award, Champions of the Earth, in 2010 in the 

‘Innovation and Action’ category. 

Do you believe that solar energy and electric vehicles will 

be part of our mobility in the future? 

Absolutely. Our future will run on electricity, with the aid of 

electric vehicles, which are equipped with solar cells and which 

we can recharge with solar energy when not in use. That petrol 

will run out is a fact. We just don’t know when exactly. Converting 

to renewable sources of energy is therefore a necessity. 

All car owners will have 10 square metres of solar cells on the 

roofs of their homes (which still costs about CHF 3,000), which 

will generate enough electricity to drive 15,000 kilometres a year 

for at least 20 years. In fact, that is possible now. 

“Our future will run on electricity – with 

electric vehicles, equipped with solar cells, 

which we can recharge with solar energy 

when not in use.” 

What do you personally do in your daily life to conserve 

resources, apart from your work on your projects? 

Whenever possible, I try not to use a petrol-driven car or fly. 

Reducing CO 2 emissions is one of my main concerns. As a consumer 

I make sure I buy products made of recyclable materials. 

Naturally I return used products and appliances to the correct 

collection points; moreover, I think it’s important to actually go 

on using these products until they no longer work properly. 

Services like the ones SENS provides are vital in this respect: 

they make it easy for me as a consumer to take back and recycle 

my goods in an environmentally friendly way. 

Interview 

Projects 

For many years Louis Palmer and his audacious projects have been 

successfully drawing public attention to electric mobility using renewable 

sources of energy. Between 2007 and 2008, he drove around 

the world in 18 months in his emission-free Solar Taxi, covering about 

54,000 kilometres. In the Zero Emission Race project, three electric 

vehicles drove around the world in just 80 days. In the WAVE expeditions 

– short for World Advanced Vehicle Expeditions – 25 electric 

vehicles took part in the Paris to Prague electric car rally and four drove 

from Mumbai to Bangalore and back. More WAVE expeditions are 

planned for 2012: for detailed information, see � www.wave2012.net 


Outlook 

Aims for 2012: 

four winners 

Following another successful financial year, SENS has set itself specific aims for 2012. 

We intend to make the most of our leading position in the industry so that we can carry 

on setting benchmarks for sustainability and efficient, holistic solutions together with 

our partners in the future. 

In 2012 SENS is concentrating its activities on four key areas: 

sustainability, expertise, networks and solutions, bearing in 

mind the future direction of the strategy decided in 2011, which 

enables us to build on our achievements so far and fully prepare 

ourselves to face future challenges. This provides the 

perfect starting point for accomplishing our tasks and objectives 

successfully. 

Sustainability – sustainable recycling 

SENS has been providing its partners with individual holistic 

solutions for using resources efficiently and therefore sustainably 

for more than 20 years. In 2012 we are continuing to concentrate 

our efforts on further developing our exemplary, sustainable 

recycling system, building on our past achievements. 

This includes anticipating future trends 

and market requirements and already 

starting work on solutions for tomorrow’s 

challenges today. 

With this in mind we are continuing to work hard on developing 

innovative products, including solar panels and golf caddies, 

and on the recycling challenges they pose. Other issues are 

urban mining (rare metals) and cradle-to-cradle (closing material 

cycles once and for all). In these areas sustainability means 

that the recycling and reuse of commodities should have a 

fundamental impact on product development. SENS expertise 

in these issues can make a major contribution to sustainable 

recycling in the future. 

Expertise – sound specialist knowledge 

SENS expertise encompasses many levels: as regards waste, 

SENS monitors strict compliance with the legally required, high 

recycling and waste disposal standards, providing its partners 

with an efficient infrastructure. SENS uses the advance recycling 

fee to ensure that the logistics systems are optimised and the 

services are competitively financed. In the coming year SENS 

will be drawing on its many years of experience and its expertise 

in the VREG revision process in particular: our aim is to 


introduce an obligation to pay the ARF, from which those companies 

affiliated to private take-back and recycling systems 

have so far been exempt. 

Together with our partners we are 

committed to a revision that promotes 

the existing, extremely successful 

approach of the private sector. 

The basis on which we shall achieve this aim is not only our 

many years of experience and expertise, but also our wide 

network of relevant partners. 

Network – profitable relationships 

The sustainable relationships with our partners guarantee, on 

the one hand, our exemplary behaviour towards the environment 

and, on the other, economically valuable processes. We 

do not look on our partners as service providers, but essentially 

as colleagues with whom we can design and develop 

efficient processes. 

Continually developing the network 

of profitable partnerships within the 

relevant interest groups was and is an 

essential ingredient of our success. 

This is why we are continually strengthening our relationships 

with committed, expert partners from the following sectors: 

manufacturing and imports, retailing, recycling and waste collection 

and disposal. In addition, as a member of the European 

platform for dialogue and competence, the WEEE Forum, we 

are constantly extending our international contacts. In 2012, 

using the Swiss and international networks for revising the 

VREG will be especially important, so that the VREG can offer 

the recycling industry future-oriented, sustainable solutions. 

Solution – efficient, holistic solutions 

SENS solutions always integrate environmental and economic 

aspects.

We offer comprehensive holistic solutions 

instead of individual services, and a system 

that is based on coordinated, contractually 

governed collaboration and clearly 

allocated tasks and responsibilities. 

Bearing in mind the need for an efficient holistic solution for our 

partnerships with manufacturers and importers, we will be introducing 

a database for processing invoices online in the coming 

year. Hence not only will service processes be optimi sed in 

this area, but statistical data collection and analysis will also 

be greatly simplified. In addition, in 2012 SENS will continue to 

collaborate with the partners concerned on a new remuneration 

model for the SENS collection points. The aim is to assess the 

services of the collection points, taking into account their different 

requirements, more appropriately, and so enhance the 

attractiveness of the collection points for end customers. 

We firmly believe that, together with our partners and employees, 

we can continue to use targeted measures to further strengthen 

our leading position in these four key sectors in the future. 

Agenda 

ARF Committee meeting 

� Thursday, 24 May 2012 

Morning 

� Tuesday, 6 November 2012 

Morning 

Recycling company meeting 

� Wednesday, 14 November 2012 

All day 

Suisse Toy in Bern 

� Wednesday, 3 October, to Sunday, 7 October 2012 

At the trade fair centre in Bern 

Founders meeting 

� Friday, 4 May 2012; Aarau 

WEEE Forum 

� Friday, 27 April 2012; Vienna 

General Assembly; 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. 

� Wednesday, 19 November 2012; London 

General Assembly; 2 p.m.– 6 p.m. 

� Friday, 21 September 2012; London 

WEEE Forum conference (public event); 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. 

� Friday, 30 November 2012; Ljubljana 

General Assembly; 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. 

For further information see � www.weee-forum.org 

Annual audit of 50 contractual partners 

Mid-August to mid-October 2012 

Outlook 

Should you have any questions on these events, do not hesitate to 

contact Ms Teresa Medaglia, SENS Marketing Manager, who will be 

happy to help you (teresa.medaglia @ sens.ch or Tel. + 41 43 255 20 00). 


Who says Switzerland 

has no natural resources …? 

Urban mining helps 

to complete the raw materials cycle. 

Enabling highly developed economies that have no 

natural deposits themselves to satisfy their needs for 

raw materials necessitates exploiting secondary 

resources still more efficiently. Hence Switzerland 

already collects thousands of tonnes of aluminium, 

iron and copper each year. The SENS system contributes 

a substantial share of these valuable and 

increasingly scarce raw materials, by recycling used 

electrical and electronic appliances. 


Financial Report 33 

ARF fund: remains in the black 34 

SENS operating account 38 

SENS balance sheet 39 

Auditor’s report 40 

SLRS annual report: lighting equipment and luminaires 42 

SENS: competent and efficient 46 

Partnerships: successful from A to Z 49 

Financial Report 


ARF fund 

ARF fund: 

remains in the black 

The advance recycling fee levied on electrical and electronic appliances is transferred 

from the dealers and importers to the SENS fund. This fund continued to enjoy highly 

satisfactory growth in all appliance categories in 2011. 

SENS kilo goods 

The total volume of SENS goods 

increased again in 2011. This means 

SENS remains one of the leading 

recycling systems in Europe. 

Quantities recycled in tonnes Quantities recycled in items 

20,000 

16,000 

12,000 

8,000 

4,000 

0 


2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 

Large household appliances 

In 2011 the number of recycled 

large household appliances, such 

as cookers, dishwashers and 

washing machines, remained 

constant at a high 523,933. 

600,000 

500,000 

400,000 

300,000 

200,000 

100,000 

0 

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Refrigerators and freezers 

In 2011 the number of 

recycled refrigerators, freezers, 

air-conditioning appliances 

and ice makers rose by 5.5 per 

cent to 369,328. 

Quantities recycled in items Quantity recycled in kilos 

400,000 

300,000 

200,000 

100,000 

0 

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 

Toys and games 

The volume of recycled electrical 

and electronic toys and games 

was increased to about 93,200 

kilos. This corresponds to 

a growth rate of 9.7 per cent. 

100,000 

80,000 

60,000 

40,000 

20,000 

0 

ARF fund 

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 


ARF fund 

ARF fund for SENS appliances 


31 / 12 / 2011 31 / 12 / 2010 

Revenue in CHF in CHF 

ARF revenue 33,904,275 31,592,123 

Compensation of ARF fund for batteries – 885,944 – 919,048 

Yield on capital 1) 849,951 925,477 

Total revenue 33,868,282 31,598,553 

Expenditure 

Recycling payment 11,579,973 10,110,528 

Payment to collection points 9,102,437 9,336,622 

Payment for transport 10,047,629 11,433,640 

Technical check of recycling 256,545 279,708 

Check of recycling points 3,496 6,734 

Shopping basket analysis 370,930 452,358 

Remuneration for peripheral tasks (local authorities) 38,864 56,123 

Publicity campaign 266,133 293,600 

ARF check of manufacturers / importers 70,212 75,954 

Service centre 54,174 87,793 

Total expenditure 31,790,394 32,133,061 

Fund balance 2,077,888 – 534,508 

Contributions to administrative costs according to 

the operating account1) 2,029,988 1,938,035 

Reserves / withdrawal from the fund for SENS appliances 47,900 – 2,472,544 

1) Comments on the fund accounts 

In the interests of greater transparency, based on the fund assets the yield on capital has been transferred and 

counted as yield in the fund accounts since 2010. This increases the share of administrative costs by the amount 

of yield on capital, but not the real costs of the operating account. This makes the illustration more realistic and 

transparent to understand.

ARF fund for toys and games 

ARF fund 

31 / 12 / 2011 31 / 12 / 2010 


ARF net revenue 404,241 390,324 

Compensation of ARF fund for batteries – 72,417 – 122,545 

Yield on capital 1) 41,148 41,923 

Total revenue 372,972 309,703 

Expenditure 

Recycling payment 23,633 14,345 

Payment to collection points 20,524 12,363 

Payment for transport 20,774 13,307 

Technical check of recycling 3,062 3,483 

Check of recycling points 42 84 

Shopping basket analysis 2,956 2,331 

Remuneration for peripheral tasks (local authorities) 180 169 

Publicity campaign 133,067 146,800 

Suisse Toy 98,896 83,656 

ARF check of manufacturers / importers 838 946 

Service centre 647 1,093 

Total expenditure 304,618 278,576 

Fund balance 68,355 31,126 

Contributions to administrative costs according to 

the operating account1) 25,000 25,000 

Reserve in the fund for toys and games 43,355 6,126 


Operating account 

SENS operating account 


31 / 12 / 2011 31 / 12 / 2010 


Contributions to administrative costs of SWICO 22,658 22,251 

Contributions to administrative costs of SLRS 250,000 261,800 

Contributions to administrative costs of Inobat 14,376 15,624 

Contributions to administrative costs of SENS International 35,000 35,000 

Contribution to administrative costs for toys and games 25,000 25,000 

Contributions to administrative costs for SENS appliances 2,029,988 1,938,035 

Total contributions to administrative costs 2,377,022 2,297,709 

Various sources of revenue 

Miscellaneous revenue 585 0 

Yield on capital 0 0 

Total of various sources of revenue 585 0 

Total revenue 2,377,607 2,297,709 

Expenditure 

SENS online system 145,706 83,606 

Studies 50,155 55,699 

Annual report / technical report 117,112 150,851 

Publicity / Internet 54,626 43,299 

Translations 33,964 52,565 

Procurement work in Switzerland 23,498 96,816 

Total administrative expenditure for the recycling system 425,059 482,836 

SENS administrative expenditure 

Board of Trustees, President’s office 120,539 126,790 

Expenditure for Head Office personnel 1,365,876 1,098,086 

SENS agencies 13,351 23,011 

Office expenditure 291,264 322,794 

Depreciation 49,413 63,099 

Auditing 9,960 9,360 

International procurement work 8,385 2,849 

WEEE Forum 91,851 168,884 

Other expenditure 1,909 0 

Total SENS administrative expenditure 1,952,547 1,814,873 

Total expenditure 2,377,607 2,297,709 

Balance of the operating account 0 0

SENS balance sheet 

Comments 

Securities: these are stock-market-listed bonds issued by Swiss companies and public bodies. 

Loan to SENS International: in the year under review, the loan attracted interest at 2.18 per cent. 

Liabilities to third parties: these are current, short-term liabilities. 

Deferred liabilities: the services provided by collection points, transport and recycling companies for the year of 

the report, which have not yet been invoiced, are recorded here as deferred. 

1) Yield on assets on SENS reserves 

In consultation with the auditors, the yield on assets from the SENS reserves has been posted directly as an 

increase in equity. 

Balance sheet 

Assets 31 / 12 / 2011 31 / 12 / 2010 

Operating assets in CHF in CHF 

Cash and cash equivalents 9,633,333 3,103,102 

Debts due 1,857,049 3,301,317 

Accrued and deferred income 3,381,984 552,780 

Total operating assets 14,872,366 6,957,199 

Fixed assets 

Office equipment / equipment 40,000 38,000 

Vehicles 11,000 22,000 

Securities 34,902,177 37,417,570 

Loans to SENS International 1,200,000 1,200,000 

Total fixed assets 36,153,177 38,677,570 

Total assets 51,025,543 45,634,769 

Liabilities 

Borrowed capital 

Liabilities to third parties 459,244 1,541,349 

Accrued and deferred liabilities 9,478,504 3,118,257 

Recycling funds 

ARF fund for SENS appliances 37,917,211 37,869,311 

ARF fund for toys and games 1,876,694 1,833,339 

Total borrowed capital 49,731,653 44,362,257 

Equity 

Foundation capital 320,000 320,000 

SENS reserves as of 31 / 12 952,512 1,031,042 

SENS anniversary – – 102,217 

Yield on assets on SENS reserves1) 21,378 23,687 

Total equity 1,293,890 1,272,512 

Total liabilities 51,025,543 45,634,769 


Auditor’s report 





SLRS annual report 

SLRS annual report: lighting 

equipment and luminaires 

As in previous years the Stiftung Licht Recycling Schweiz (SLRS) is publishing its annual 

balance sheet in the SENS annual report. The Foundation is responsible for the system 

for lighting equipment and luminaires, while SENS integrates these two categories into 

its recycling system. The relevant funds are managed by the Foundation. 

ARF fund for lighting equipment 


31 / 12 / 2011 31 / 12 / 2010 


ARF lighting equipment 4,178,175 3,964,450 

Expenditure 

Payments for recycling services – 2,679,423 – 2,622,342 

Contribution to SENS for system costs – 125,000 – 125,000 

Total expenditure for recycling – 2,804,423 – 2,747,342 

Marketing / public relations – 193,706 – 153,299 

Proportion of administrative expenditure for SLRS – 92,599 – 94,254 

Proportion of other expenditure for SLRS – 135 – 119 

Proportion of depreciation for SLRS 0 0 

Proportion of the financial result 323,923 151,083 

Proportion of the neutral result for SLRS – 302 – 1,441 

Proportion of the result carried over for SLRS – 5,933 – 4,077 

Allocation to the ARF fund for lighting equipment 1,405,000 1,115,000 

ARF fund for lighting equipment as of 31 / 12 13,900,000 12,495,000 

Comments: 

The number of light bulbs in circulation in Switzerland that have to be recycled, and thus also the ARF revenue, 

is 4.7 per cent up on the previous year. The total volume of lighting equipment recycled, expressed in kilos, has 

decreased by almost 42,000 kilos. However, what this decrease means in terms of the number of items is not 

clear, since the average weight is constantly decreasing due to the growing number of smaller models. Assuming 

they weigh 120 grams on average, just under 9.3 million light bulbs were recycled via our system.

ARF fund for luminaires 

SLRS annual report 

31 / 12 / 2011 31 / 12 / 2010 


ARF luminaires 1,258,170 3,227 

Expenditure 

Payments for recycling services – 1,159,382 – 1,170,280 

Contribution to SENS for system costs – 125,000 – 125,000 

Total expenditure for recycling – 1,284,382 – 1,295,280 

Marketing / public relations – 193,706 – 153,299 

Proportion of administrative expenditure for SLRS – 92,599 – 94,254 

Proportion of other expenditure for SLRS – 135 – 119 

Proportion of depreciations for SLRS 0 0 

Proportion of the financial result – 170,322 106,342 

Proportion of the neutral result for SLRS – 159 – 1,014 

Proportion of the result carried over for SLRS – 2,511 – 5,602 

Disbursement from ARF fund for luminaires – 145,000 – 1,440,000 

ARF fund for luminaires as of 31 / 12 6,425,000 6,570,000 

Comments: 

There was a 17 per cent rise in the number of luminaires recycled. The fact that the cost of recycling fell by 1 per 

cent is due to the lower recycling payments, which have been linked to trends in the prices of metals since mid-2009. 


Lighting up 

the whole of Lucerne. 

Getting added value from your 

used tumble dryer. 

One and a half million tumble dryers used around 

850 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in Switzerland 

in 2011. Replacing all these appliances with ones in 

Efficiency Class A would save nearly 400 million kilowatthours 

– the annual electricity consumption of the 

whole of Lucerne. SENS and its partners are therefore 

targeting their efforts to ensure used electricity 

guzzlers are taken back promptly and replaced with 

more energy-efficient dryers. 



Organogram 

SENS: 

competent and efficient 

The streamlined organisation and constructive collaboration between the Head Office, 

the founders, the Board of Trustees and the Committee ensure efficient processes and the 

exceptional quality of the take-back and recycling systems. 

Customer care / Deputy 

Managing Director 

Heidi Luck 

Customer care 

Laura Donnicola 

Customer care 

Susan Morrone 

As of 1 January 2012 


Secretary 

Ivana Vizcaino 

Operations 

Roman Eppenberger 


Roman Eppenberger 

Board of Trustees 

Andreas Röthlisberger, 

President 

SENS Managing 

Director 



Peter Schürch 

Logistics / 

Online marketing 

Robin Unterweger 

Support 


Marketing 

Teresa Medaglia 

HR / Accounting 

Kathrin Siegfried 

IT systems 

Peter Schürch 

Quality / Products 

Paul Scherer 

TK SENS 

External auditors

Founders 

• AKB, Aargauische Kantonalbank, Aarau 

• AEW, Aargauische Electricity Company, Aarau 

• AVAG, AG for recycling waste, Jaberg 

• COOP, Basel 

• FEA, Swiss Professional Association for Electrical 

Appliances in Household and Industry, Zurich 

• Federation of Migros Cooperatives (FMC), Zurich 

• FONDA AG, Rheinfelden 

• IGCE, Consumer Electronics Interest Group, Worb 

• Canton of Aargau 

• Alfred Müller AG, Baar 

• RUAG Switzerland AG, Emmen 

• RVBS Partner, Aarau 

• St. Jakobskellerei Schuler & Cie AG, Seewen-Schwyz 

• SM Recycling AG, Aarau 

• Syngenta International AG, Basel 

• Gustav Werder, Aarau 

Board of Trustees 

President 

• Dr Andreas Röthlisberger, President, Aarau 

• Dr Rudolf Bolliger, Vice-president, FEA, Zurich 

Members 

• Stephan Büsser, Tooltechnic Systems AG, Dietikon 

• Bruno Cabernard, Coop, Basel 

• Eugen Huber, Miele AG, Spreitenbach 

• Ivo Huber, Tulux AG, Tuggen 

• Alain Jaccard, Swiss Association of Towns, Bern 

• Dr Peter Kuhn, Canton of Aargau, Aarau 

• Dr Raymond Vouillamoz, Environmental expert, Visp 

• Christine Wiederkehr-Luther, MGB, Zurich 

• Ruedi Zurflüh, z2solutions gmbh, Gelterkinden 

ARF Committee 

Founders, Board of Trustees, ARF Committee 

The ARF Committee updates the official ARF appliance lists 

on an annual basis and, together with the Board of Trustees, 

determines the ARF tariff as well as the remuneration for the 

recycling services: collection, transport and recycling. 

Chair 

• Heidi Luck, SENS Managing Director (temporary) 

• Patrick Lampert, SENS Managing Director 

from 1 October 2011 

Members 

Building, garden, hobby: 

• Patrick Mathys, FEIN Suisse AG 

Electrical and electronic appliances: 

• Markus Gauch, FUST AG 

• Kilian Hecht, Coop 

• Hansjörg Kohli, Interdiscount 

• Peter Stefani, Swiss Retail Federation 

• Christine Wiederkehr-Luther, Federation of Migros 

Cooperatives (FMC) 

Large household appliances: 

• Eugen Huber, Miele AG 

• Klaus Rogg, BSH Hausgeräte AG 

• Kurt Langhart, Electrolux AG 

• Hans Mazzoleni, V-Zug AG 

Small household appliances: 

• Urban Kiefer, Rotel AG 

Lighting equipment and luminaires: 

• Stephan Thommen, Stiftung Licht Recycling Schweiz 

(SLRS) up to 31 October 2011 

• Silvia Schaller, Stiftung Licht Recycling Schweiz (SLRS), 

from 1 November 2011 

Toys and games: 

• Reto Zurflüh, z2solutions gmbh 

Left in 2011: 

• Susanne Hierold, BSH Hausgeräte AG 

(Large household appliances) 


Thank you 

for taking me back. 

So that toxins no longer 

harm our habitat. 

Disposing of our electrical and electronic appliances 

incorrectly harms our health, our environment and 

biodiversity. SENS ensures that the toxins contained 

in these appliances, such as mercury, arsenic and 

selenium, are disposed of correctly as regards the 

environment, and in doing so makes a major contribution 

to ensuring clean water and the sustainable 

resettlement of species of plants and animals that 

have disappeared. 


Partnerships: 

successful from A to Z 

Partners 

Thanks to the outstanding collaboration with committed, expert partners, in 2011 we 

were again able to increase the number of electrical and electronic appliances recycled 

in an environmentally friendly way. We would like to thank all our SENS partners and 

consumers for their support. 

Manufacturers, importers and their trade associations 

• Asmas, Association of Swiss Sports Retailers 

• Professional Group for the Power Tools, Building, Garden and 

Hobby Appliance Sectors 

• FEA, Swiss Professional Association for Electrical Appliances in Household 

and Industry 

• SLRS, Swiss Light Recycling Foundation 

• SPAF, Association of Swiss Sports Equipment Suppliers 

• SVDI, Swiss Association of the Diagnostics and Diagnostics Equipment Industry 

• SVS, Swiss Toys and Games Association 

• SWICO, Swiss Association for Information, Communication and 

Organisational Technology 

• Swissmem, Service Centre for Swiss Mechanical and 

Electrical Engineering Companies 

• VRWT, Association for the Promotion of Room-Air Clothes Driers 

• VSE, Association of the Swiss Trade in Ironware and Household Goods 

Retailers and authorised distributors 

• Conforama, Coop, Fust, Interdiscount, Jumbo, Lidl, Manor, Media Markt, Migros 

• EEV, Swiss Electrical Purchasing Association 

• Specialist retailers 

• SRF, Swiss Retail Federation and its members 

• VEDES, Association of German Toys and Games Retailers 

Organisations responsible for recycling 

• FVG, (Professional Association for VREG Disposal), the communication and 

competence platform for companies recycling used electrical and electronic 

equipment 

• Recycling companies, collection points and transport companies 

Also, the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the cantons and local 

authorities, consumers and independent advisers of the TK-SENS Technical 

Inspectorate 


Partners 

Manufacturers / importers 

3M (Schweiz) AG 

A & M Electric Tools (Schweiz) AG 

A. & J. Stöckli AG 

A. Kuster Sirocco AG 

A. Marchon SA 

A. Steffen AG 

AA Agentur Arber GmbH 

Abbott AG 

Accutron AG 

Activeion (Europe) GmbH 

Adcom Motion AG 

ADIDAS AG 

Adrenio Trading GmbH 

Aerial GmbH 

AKA-Leuchten AG 

AL-KO KOBER AG 

Alessi S.P.A. 

Alfauna AG 

ALMEDICA 

Alno (Schweiz) AG 

Alteme Licht AG 

AMA-TRADE GmbH 

Ambrolight SA 

AMG Elektronik GmbH 

Amici Caffè AG 

Amsler & Co. AG 

Amsler Spielwaren AG 

Andrax GmbH 

Ansorg GmbH 

Anticaro AG 

Apitec 

Armin Schmid 

Arnold Winkler AG 

Arte Diffusione GmbH 

Artecasa SA 

Artsana Suisse SA 

Artslux Sàrl 

Arwico AG 

Astavel GmbH 

Asuntec GmbH 

Ata DMS S.A. 

Atelier Goldner Schnitt AG 

Athleticum Sportmarkets AG 

Attilum 

AWAG Elektrotechnik AG 

Axis-Shield AG 

B. Schmid Co AG 

Bruno Bader GmbH & Co. KG 

Ballon- & Partyshop 

Ballon-Müller AG 

Baltensweiler AG 

Bauhaus Fachcentren AG 

Bauknecht AG 

Baule Magic Electroménager 

BDK Eclairage 

Beca Licht 

Belair Solutions AG 

Belar Licht AG 

BELFA AG 

BELUX AG 

Bernina (Schweiz) AG 

Betzold Lernmedien GmbH 

Biax-Maschinen GmbH 

Biber Umweltprodukte Versand GmbH 

Bio-Rad Laboratories AG 


Biola AG 

Biomed AG 

Birchmeier Sprühtechnik AG 

Blaser + Trösch AG 

Bläuer Möbelfabrik AG 

BLW – Lichttechnik 

BODUM (Schweiz) AG 

bogobit – Siegfried Grob 

Bösch Maschinenbau 

Brabantia AG 

bracolux 

Brandt Suisse SA 

Brother Sewing Machines Europe GmbH 

Bruehwiler Maschinen AG 

Brunner Lichtprodukte AG 

BSH Hausgeräte AG 

Bucher Beat AG 

Bucher und Walt SA 

BUEHRER LICHT AG 

BUMA Wärmetechnik AG 

C&O Distribution de Produits Informatiques 

Caffè Chicco d’Oro 

Cairos Concept 

Camping Gaz (Schweiz) AG 

Candela GmbH 

Candy Hoover AG 

careware schweiz gmbh 

Carl Henkel GmbH 

Carletto AG 

Carlit + Ravensburger AG 

CEAG Notlichtsysteme GmbH 

CED AG 

Ceka Elektrowerkzeuge AG + Co. KG 

Cerjo SA 

CH Medical AG 

Chalut Green Service SA 

Chris Sports Systems AG 

CIPAG SA 

City Zoo GmbH 

Classic Modell AG 

CMJ-C. Junod Beleuchtungskörper 

Coca-Cola HBC Schweiz AG 

Cofimar SA 

Comfort Products AG 

Comtel AG 

Concept Swiss AG 

Concept2 (Schweiz) GmbH 

Conforama Direction SA 

Constri AG 

contrel ag 

Coop 

Coplax AG 

Cornelia Versand GmbH 

Cozzio Handels GmbH 

Crealine GmbH 

Creativ Nail 

Crown Technics LTD 

Curaden International AG 

D + L Systeme GmbH 

Danfoss AG 

Dany MM Natura 

Darius HandelsgmbH 

DB-Licht 

Debrunner Acifer AG 

Decke und Licht AG 

Delica AG 

Delphin-Amazonia AG 

Delta Möbel 

Denner AG 

Der Küchenprofi GmbH 

Dereda Systems Sàrl 

Derungs Licht AG 

DiaMed (Schweiz) GmbH 

Distrelec AG 

DKB Household Switzerland AG 

DLS Import 

Dobi International AG 

Dome Line SA 

Dometic Switzerland AG 

Domotec AG 

DS-Derendinger 

Dynco AG 

Dyson SA 

e + h Services AG 

E-direkt ENGSTLER 

Easy-Safe 

Easylight Sàrl 

Ecobar AG 

Edelweiss Handelsunternehmung 

EEV, Swiss Electrical Purchasing Association 

Eglo Schweiz AG 

Eigenmann AG 

Einhell Schweiz AG 

Eisemann Schweiz GmbH 

Eismann Tiefkühlservice AG 

EK Inter AG 

Elbro AG 

Eldom Rothrist AG 

ELEC Handels AG 

Electrolux AG 

Electronic Partner Schweiz AG 

Electroplast SA 

Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich (EKZ) Eltop 

Elektro-Material AG 

Elektro-Ulmann 

Elektrobedarf Troller AG 

Elektron AG 

Elettromara 

Elevite AG 

Eli Lilly (Suisse) SA 

Ellenbroek Hugentobler AG 

EM Elektro-Material AG 

EMALUX SA 

EMM Tools GmbH 

ERCO Lighting AG 

Ergoline AG 

Ernst Rickli AG 

ESC Electronics Sales & Consulting GmbH 

Essential Elements AG 

Estec AG 

Estée Lauder GmbH 

Esylux Swiss AG 

Euroflex AG 

Expo Arredo SA 

Export-Union GmbH 

F.G. Ritter AG 

F.T. Sonderegger AG 

Fabbri SA 

Fabotech Handels AG 

Falmec Schweiz AG 

FCTconnex AG 

FEIN Suisse AG 

Felco SA 

Feldschlösschen Getränke AG 

Ferm B.V. 

Finnor Project AG

Fischer Otto AG 

FL Metalltechnik AG 

Flu-Lux Sagl 

Fluke Switzerland AG 

Fluora Leuchten AG 

Fors AG 

Forster Küchen- & Kühltechnik AG 

Fortura AG 

Franke Küchentechnik AG 

Frauchiger AG 

Freelight AG 

FRESA AG 

Friedrich Duss 

Frigel AG 

Froid Widmer SA 

Fronius International GmbH 

Fuhrer + Bachmann AG 

Funk + Meier AG 

Fust AG 

Galexis AG 

Gallagher Schweiz AG 

Garten und Freizeit AG 

Gas-Center M. Honegger AG 

GE Digital Energy SA 

Geberit Vertriebs AG 

Gebr. Gloor AG 

Gebr. Märklin & Cie. GmbH 

Gebrüder R. + W. Baldinger AG 

Gecko Supply GmbH 

Georgia Pacific Nederland B. V. 

Gerussi P.+U. 

Getatron GmbH 

Gifas-Electric GmbH 

GKM Gewerbekühlmöbel AG 

gluehbirne.ch 

go-Tools GmbH 

Graupner GmbH & Co. KG 

Greuter Leuchten 

Griesser Kältetechnik GmbH 

Groupe SEB Schweiz GmbH 

Guest and More GmbH 

H. Siegrist-Import AG 

Hach Lange GmbH 

Hag Modelleisenbahnen 

Hagro 

Hako Schweiz AG 

Hardmeier Electronics AG 

Hasbro Deutschland GmbH 

Havells Sylvania Switzerland AG 

Havo Group AG 

Hazuba AG 

Hegner AG 

Hegra AG 

Heinrich Heine Handelsgesellschaft AG 

Helios Ventilatoren 

Hendi Food Service Equipment GmbH 

Henkel & Cie. AG 

Henz AG 

Hermann Kuhn AG 

HILPERT electronics AG 

Hilti (Schweiz) AG 

Hinti GmbH 

HoBu GmbH 

HOLINGER SOLAR 

HomeSim GbR 

Hometec AG 

Honda (Suisse) SA 

Horego AG 

hostettler motoren ag 

HS Technics AG 

HUCO AG 

Husqvarna Schweiz AG 

ifrec SA 

IG Instrumenten-Gesellschaft AG 

iGuzzini Illuminazione Schweiz AG 

IKEA AG 

ILSEBO Handels AG 

Immer AG 

Importazioni elettrodomestici 

Inbauteam 

Indesit Company International 

Inhaus AG 

Innolight AG 

Innotrade AG 

Innovesta AG 

Inotec Sicherheitstechnik (Schweiz) AG 

Integrasolar SA 

Intercolux AG 

Interdiscount 

Interhydro AG 

Interio AG 

Internorm AG 

intraform 

iRobotics GmbH 

J. Wagner AG 

Jeker Leuchten AG 

JOE FORREST sagl 

Johannliemke, Wetzel GbR 

Johema AG 

John Lay Electronics AG 

Johnson & Johnson Health Care Switzerland 

Joker AG 

Jos. Styger AG 

Jumbo-Markt AG 

JURA Elektroapparate AG 

Jysk GmbH 

K. Mösch AG 

Kärcher AG 

Kartteam Meier GmbH 

Kaspar Moos AG 

KAZ Europe SA 

Keller Ch. Design AG 

Keller Martigny SA 

Kenwood Swiss AG 

Kertész Kabel AG 

Kinderparadies 

Kisag AG 

KLIMAWATT AG 

KMD Industrievertretungen 

KML GmbH 

Kraftwerk Europe AG 

Krämer fürs Wohnen 

Krucker Partner AG 

Krüger + Co. AG 

KS Tools AG 

KSR SA 

Kuhn Rikon AG 

L’Oréal Suisse SA 

La Générale du Froid SA 

La Semeuse 

Lampen-Shop AG 

Lamprecht AG 

LaPreva AG 

LauraStar SA 

Lectra Technik AG 

LEDON Lamp GmbH 

Lego Schweiz AG 

Legrand (Schweiz) AG 

Leibi AG 

Lemaco SA 

Leuchten Giger AG 

Leuchtturm Albenverlag GmbH & Co. KG 

Leutwyler Kühlanlagen AG 

Levo Batterien AG 

Licht & Concept AG 

Licht + Raum AG 

Licht AG 

Licht Shop 

Licht-Decor 

Licht-Galerie AG 

Lichtbau GmbH 

Lichtfabrik Seiler 

Lichthalle AG 

Lidl Schweiz GmbH, Neckarsulm 

Life Measurement Inc. 

Lifeware Rheintal AG 

Light On Beleuchtungstechnik GmbH 

light-CUBE AG 

Lighting Care AG 

LightKnow GmbH 

Ligo Electric SA 

LIMEX Handels GmbH 

Limmat Handelshaus AG 

LIPO Einrichtungsmärkte AG 

LISTEC Schweisstechnik AG 

LM Lichtmacher GmbH 

Locher Trade RG AG 

Longlite Technologies AG 

Lübra Apparatebau AG 

Luce Mania SA 

Lumatec SA 

Lumess AG 

Lumetall AG Heiterschen 

Lumi-R 

Lumimod 

Lumina (Schweiz) GmbH 

Lumina Light Sàrl 

Lumiverre SA 

LUNOR G. Kull AG 

LUXED Beleuchtungen GmbH 

LWB WeldTech AG 

m&b AG Verkaufssupport 

M. Schönenberger AG 

M. Wyler AG 

M. Züblin AG 

M.I.P. Marketing International Products 

Mabalux AG 

Madal Bal AG 

Makita SA 

Mammut Sports Group AG 

Manor AG 

Manzotto GmbH 

Marcel Csuka Zürich 

Marcel Weber AG 

Martec Handels AG 

Master Spas GmbH 

Mato Suisse GmbH 

Mattel AG 

Max Bersinger AG 

Max Bertschinger AG 

Max Hauri AG 

Max Müller Schweisstechnik 

MCL Medizinische Laboratorien AG 

MebiLED International GmbH 

Partners 


Partners 

Media Markt Verwaltungs AG 

Medicoss AG 

Medidor AG 

Meili Trading AG 

Melitta GmbH 

Melux M. Meier 

Menagros SA 

Merker AG 

Metabo (Schweiz) AG 

Miele AG 

Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund MGB 

Minibar Enterprises AG 

MK Illumination AG 

mkc Mega Küchencenter AG 

MLT Moderne Licht-Technik AG 

Möbel Pfister AG 

Moc AG Import 

Modellbahn-Boutique 

Modellbau Import 

Modellbauland Hauptwil 

Modellbaustudio Born GmbH 

Modular lighting switzerland ag 

Mondilux AG 

Montagetechnik Berner AG 

Moonlight Swiss 

MoveToLive GmbH 

MTC Elettrodomestici SA 

MTD Schweiz AG 

MTS Multi Technology Services GmbH 

Müller Handels AG Schweiz 

Multiple Invest AG – MIAG 

NA Sonderegger AG 

NAFA-Light AG 

Nähcenter Iseli AG 

Nebus AG 

Neogard AG 

NEOPERL AG 

Nestlé Nespresso SA 

Nestlé Suisse SA 

Neuco AG 

Neue Werkstatt GmbH 

Neweba AG 

Newspeed AG 

NFL Systèmes d’éclairages 

Nihon Kenko Zoushin Kenkyuhai SA 

Nimex AG 

Nouvel AG 

Novissa Haushaltgeräte AG 

Novoline AG 

Nussbaumer Holz AG 

o’select – Traitement de l’eau 

O. Küttel AG 

OBI Bau- und Heimwerkermarkt 

OBI Systemzentrale Schweiz GmbH 

Oerlikon-Schweisstechnik AG 

Office Depot GmbH 

Office Factory AG 

Olina Küchen 

onlog (Suisse) AG 

OPO Oeschger AG 

Opti Link AG 

Optimizer GmbH 

Optrel AG 

OS Technology AG / SA 

OSRAM AG 

PAKA S.A. 

PALOMAR ELEKTRONIK AG 

Pancon GmbH 


PanGas AG 

Paprika Design SA 

ParaDiffusion 

Passion Cuisines Sàrl 

Paul Forrer AG 

PCT Marketing AG 

Permapack AG 

Peter Hold AG 

petos handels gmbh 

Pferd-Vitex (Schweiz) AG 

Phadia AG 

Pianezzi-Leuchten 

Pixie Loisirs SA 

Planet Multimedia GmbH 

PlantCare AG 

Plaston AG 

Playmobil Swiss GmbH 

Plumor AG 

PM CARE SYSTEMS GmbH 

Polar Electro Europe B. V. 

POLYGON – DIAGNOSTICS AG 

Popcornlovers 

Prima Swiss GmbH 

Pro-Idee Catalog GmbH 

Procter and Gamble Switzerland SARL 

Prolite GmbH 

Proluma AG 

Prolux Licht AG 

Promena AG 

Promo Sagl 

Prontolux SA 

PSS Ventilationsgeräte GmbH 

Puag AG 

PVG Schweiz AG 

Qonix SA 

Qubica AMF BV 

R. Hunziker AG 

RailTop GmbH 

Ralph Jauch 

Rauber AG 

Reckhaus AG 

Red Bull AG 

Reebok 

Regent Beleuchtungskörper AG 

René Cardinaux CC CardiCommerce 

Revotool AG 

Rexar AG 

RH Lichtkonzepte GmbH 

Ribag Licht AG 

Riesen Reinlufttechnik GmbH 

Rigamonti Officine Meccaniche 

RILUMA GmbH 

Riva + Kunzmann AG 

Riviera Cuisines Sarl 

RL Handels AG 

RM Lichtsysteme GmbH 

Robbe Modellsport GmbH & Co. KG 

Robert Bosch AG 

Rochèl DPA Nederland BV 

Roeck AG 

Roesch Electric AG 

RoJeco Sàrl 

Romang Handels AG 

Rotel AG 

roth-kippe ag 

Rothenberger (Schweiz) AG 

ROWA – Leuchten Truniger AG 

Rowa Huwiler AG 

Ruwag Handels AG 

SAECO AG 

Santhera Pharmaceuticals (CH) AG 

Sanyo Sales & Marketing Europe GmbH 

Schärer LICHT GmbH 

Schaufelberger AG 

Schierle Multimedia 

Schmerzklinik Kirschgarten 

Schönmann AG 

Schréder Swiss SA 

Schulthess Maschinen AG 

Schwab GmbH Küchen 

Schwarz Kitchen Selection SA 

Scott Sports SA 

Séchy Schweisstechnik AG 

Second Wind USA 

Selzam AG 

SENSECO 

Sensormate AG 

SERVCO HÄNISCH 

Service 7000 AG 

SES Light GmbH 

Sharp Electronics (Schweiz) AG 

SIBIRGroup AG 

Sidler Metallwaren AG 

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics AG 

Simba / Dickie (Switzerland) AG 

Sionic SA 

Sir Heian AG 

SITECO Schweiz AG Beleuchtungstechnik 

SITILUX Illuminazione 

SLV Swiss SA 

Smarterion AG 

SMC Vertriebs GmbH 

Snowlife AG 

SodaStream (Switzerland) AG 

Solari Lampen AG 

Solis AG 

SOMBO AG 

SPC Electronics AG 

Spectrum Brands Schweiz GmbH 

Spichtig AG 

Spring International GmbH 

Spring Switzerland GmbH 

Stadler Form AG 

STAG ICP AG 

Stanley Works (Europe) GmbH 

Star Unity AG 

Steinemann AG 

Stiebel Eltron AG 

Stihl Vertriebs AG 

Störi AG 

Störi Licht AG 

Studio 17 

Subag Tech AG 

Sumatrix AG 

SWAROVSKI OPTIK KG 

Swiss BioAnalytics AG 

Swiss Water System (SWS) AG 

Swissgames 

Swisslux AG 

Swissmenage GmbH 

Switch Made Swiss 

Swizz-Light GmbH 

SYSMEX DIGITANA AG 

System Partner Autoteile GmbH & Co. 

Tahitian Noni International Switzerland AG 

Tapeten Spörri

Tchibo Schweiz AG 

Techno AG 

Tegro AG 

TEK-HOBY S.A. 

Telcona AG 

Telgo AG 

Telion AG 

Tesla-Lampen GmbH 

TFS TUNED FOR SPORTS AG 

The Continuity Company 

THH GmbH 

Thuba EHB AG 

Thurnherr Vertretungen GmbH 

Tiba AG 

Timberpoint GmbH 

Tobler Haustechnik AG 

Top Casa AG 

Toptip 

Toymania Co. 

Toys «R» Us AG 

Train Store Wellig 

Traitements Thermiques SA 

Transtronic AG 

Tre Rohrbach & Co. 

TridonicAtco Schweiz AG 

Trimo AG 

Trisa Electronics AG 

Trisport AG 

TRITEC AG / Schweiz 

Trock Tech Entfeuchtungstechnik 

TRUMPF Grüsch AG 

TTS Tooltechnic Systems AG & Co. KG 

Tulux AG Licht.Lumière 

Tyco Fire & Integrated Solutions Schweiz AG 

UHU (Schweiz) AG 

Ultralight AG 

Ultratone 

Unex Dakota AG 

Unilever Schweiz GmbH 

Unilite GmbH 

Universaly Herzog GmbH 

UTM Trade & Consult GmbH 

Uvex (Schweiz) AG 

UWE-Unterwasser-Electric Brazel & Co. 

Uzin Tyro AG 

V-ZUG AG 

Valora AG 

VB Lighting AG 

VEDES Grosshandel GmbH 

Vedia SA 

Velum Schweiz GmbH 

Venta Luftwäscher AG 

VESTEL GERMANY GmbH 

VGG Handels AG 

Visiolux GmbH 

Visione Licht GmbH 

VISUALCARE SA 

Vitakraft AG 

Vittorio Bastianelli – Ideabase 

Von Wartburg Licht 

Vorwerk International Mittelsten Scheid & Co. 

VSM Switzerland GmbH 

W. Schneider + Co. AG 

Wachter Licht AG 

Waldmann Lichttechnik GmbH 

Waldmeier AG 

Walter Meier (Tool) AG 

Wate AG 

WE-EF HELVETICA SA 

Weidmann Haushaltgeräte & Co. 

WESCO AG 

Westlux AG 

Wey Leuchten 

White House AG 

WIBO Schweiz Elektro-Heizsysteme GmbH 

Windhager Schweiz AG 

Winterhalter + Fenner AG 

Wirzpartner GmbH für Leuchten und Licht 

WISAG 

WMF Schweiz AG 

Würth AG 

www.e-inzig.ch 

Wycom AG 

Wyss Samen und Pflanzen AG 

Xenon Architectural Lighting Schweiz GmbH 

Zbären Kreativküchen AG 

Zedev Einkauf & Service AG 

Zephyr Technology 

Zerfass GmbH 

Zimmermann AG 

Zona AG 

Zoo-Ring AG 

Zumstein Roland & Co. 

Zumtobel Licht AG 

SENS recycling companies 

AVO Wiederkehr Recycling AG 

Bühlmann Recycling AG 

Consortium Cablofer Bex SA – RDS SA (BIRD) 

DELA (Suisse) S.A. 

E. Flückiger AG 

Hs. Mühle Recycling AG 

IMMARK AG 

Karl Kaufmann AG 

LUMIREC SA 

Max Maag AG 

MétaBader S.A. 

Oeko-Service Schweiz AG 

REMONDIS Schweiz AG 

REONIK Recycling AG 

RUAG Schweiz AG 

Solenthaler Recycling AG 

Sonderabfallverwertung-AG SOVAG 

Thévenaz-Leduc SA 

Thommen AG / CEREN AG 

Wiederkehr Recycling AG 

Dismantling works 

A&M AG 

Abbé SA 

Abfallcenter Beringen AG 

Alfred Hösli AG 

Almeta Recycling AG 

AMI 

Anyway-Solutions SBB 

Arnold Schmid 

Atelier Menatronic 

Ateliers VIPO Ritec-Centre 

Autoverwertung Pfiffner 

BIRD RDS Adectronic 

Partners 

Boos Recycling AG 

Business House – Horetex 

Business House – Remetex 

Business House – Werk Rheintal 

Caritas Ticino 

Congefi SA 

Dock St. Gallen AG 

Eco Grischun 

EDW Bitsch 

Elektronik-Schrott-Recycling Aadorf ESRA 

Elkuch Josef AG 

Fermeto Handels AG 

Ferro AG 

Fondation des Oliviers 

Fondation Eben-Hézer 

Franz Kaufmann 

Gebr. Iten AG 

Georges Bleiker AG 

H. Mahr 

Haldimann AG 

Häusle Schweiz AG 

Heiniger Ernst 

Huber Umweltlogistik AG 

IMMARK AG 

Innorec 

JOB ECO S.A. 

Jura Elektroapparate AG 

Kehrichtbehandlungsanlage KBA Hard 

Kurt Landolt 

Leuchtturm Huttwil 

Markus Schiess AG 

Martin Bowald AG 

METALLUM Metallhandel AG 

MM Aufbereitung + Recycling AG 

Muldenzentrale OTG AG 

Nicolet Engineering SA 

Projunip 

PvB maxi.mumm 

Recy Worb 

Reinhard Recycling AG 

RUAG Schweiz AG 

Schläpfer Altmetall AG 

Schneider Umweltservice AG 

Schönenberger Recycling und Transport AG 

Schriber + Schmid GmbH 

SEB Recycling 

Stiftung Contact Bern Recycling 

Stiftung Impuls 

Stiftung intact 

Stiftung Job Training 

TRINAMO AG 

Vam Verein für aktive Arbeitsmarktmassnahmen 

Verein Vulkaro 

Verwert AG 

Vögele Recycling AG 

WTL Recycling Zentrum Linthgebiet 

ZSGE-Arbeitsbetrieb 

Züger Entsorgung AG 

Zweckverband SNH Soziales Netz Bezirk Horgen 


Contact and imprint 

Contact 

SENS President’s Office 


Jurastrasse 4, Postfach 

5001 Aarau 

Tel. +41 62 824 23 23 

Fax +41 62 824 23 22 

E-mail president @ sens.ch 

SENS Head Office 


Obstgartenstrasse 28 

8006 Zurich 

Tel. +41 43 255 20 00 

Fax +41 43 255 20 01 

E-mail info @ sens.ch 

SENS Suisse romande 

Stéphane Wagner 

ACTA Conseils Sàrl 

Rue des Pêcheurs 8a 

1400 Yverdon-les-Bains 

Tel. +41 24 424 20 44 

Fax +41 24 424 20 49 


SENS Svizzera italiana 

Laura Donnicola 

Via er Puzzetascia 2 

6513 Monte Carasso 

Tel. +41 91 829 09 01 

Fax +41 91 835 52 30 


� www.sens.ch 


Imprint 

Publisher 

SENS Swiss Foundation for Waste Management 

Translations 

ACTA Conseils Sàrl, 

Yverdon-les-Bains (German / French) 

Maria Antonietta Conradin, 

Oberrieden (German / Italian) 

ManRey Übersetzungen GmbH, 

Baden (German / English) 

Photos 

Page 4 

Baldinger & Baldinger AG, Aarau 

Page 5 

Martin Rütschi, Schindellegi 

Page 8 

Michael Stahl, Bern 

Page 15 

Stefano Schröter, Lucerne 

Page 17 

Reto Zurflüh, Gelterkinden 

Page 24 

Maria Gambino, Basel 

Page 28 

Sparkasse Bamberg, Bamberg 

Page 29 

Louis Palmer, Lucerne 

Pages 6, 11, 19, 26, 34, 35, 44, 45 

iStockphoto 

Pages 32, 48 

Stock Photos, Shutterstock 

Concept / layout / editors 

advertising, art & ideas ltd. 

Printing 

Druckmanufaktur, Urdorf 

Printed Amber Graphic offset, 

FSC mixed sources 

Number of copies 

2,600 

climate neutral 

print product 

CO2 emissions from this 

product have been offset 

with emission reduction 

certificates. 

Certificate Number: 

181-53164-0212-1015 

www.climatepartner.com 

The annual report is published in German, 

French, Italian and English and is available for 

download as a PDF at � www.sens.ch 

© 2012 SENS 

Photocopying permitted with acknow ledgement 

of source and copy to SENS, 

Obstgartenstrasse 28, 8006 Zurich 

Sources 

Page 10 

“VREG ordinance: allocating tasks 

and responsibilities between business and 

the public sector” 

SENS detailed description of manufacturers / 

importers 

Page 13 

“Swiss francs for recycling in 2011” 

SOL, auditor’s report (revenue), Toocy and the 

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (population) 

Page 18 

“ARF success model (pay-as-you-go basis)” 

SENS presentation 

Page 21 

“Starting point: distribution of the SENS 

collection points according to turnover” 

SENS online system 

“Assessing the approaches to remuneration”, 

“Type of organisational structure and 

company”, “Share of SENS goods (volume) 

in the total volume” 

2011 survey on SENS collection points 

Pages 22 / 23 

“Iron: stock exchange values taken as a basis” 

BDSV – Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Stahlrecycling- 

und Entsorgungsunternehmen e.V., 

(Federal Association of German Steel Recycling 

and Disposal Companies BDSV), 

Düsseldorf, Germany � www.bdsv.org 

“Copper: stock exchange values taken 

as a basis”, “Aluminium: stock exchange 

values taken as a basis” 

LME: London Metal Exchange � www.lme.com 

Pages 34 / 35 

“SENS kilo goods: quantities recycled in 

tonnes”, “Large household appliances: 

quantities recycled in units”, “Refrigerators 

and freezers: quantities recycled in units”, 

“Toys and games: quantities recycled in kilos” 

SENS online system

Stiftung Entsorgung Schweiz 

(Swiss Foundation for Waste Management) 

Obstgartenstrasse 28 

8006 Zurich, Switzerland 

Tel. + 41 43 255 20 00 

Fax + 41 43 255 20 01 

info @ sens.ch 

www.sens.ch

Annual Report - Sens

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?