Annual Report - Sens

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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. The Ordinance on the Return and Recycling of Electrical and 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 10 SENS Annual Report 2011 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 SENS recycling companies SENS recycling 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 / SENS Annual Report 2011 11
Page 1: 2011 Annual Report
Page 4 and 5: Forewords by the President and Mana
Page 6 and 7: How to slim down the Swiss rubbish
Page 8 and 9: Interview e-Recycling: politics and
Page 12 and 13: Key figures 2011: key figures for t
Page 14 and 15: Interview e-Recycling: consumption
Page 16 and 17: Marketing From now on, disposing of
Page 18 and 19: Manufacturers, importers and dealer
Page 20 and 21: Collection points Economic efficien
Page 22 and 23: Recycling companies Networks: achie
Page 24 and 25: Interview e-Recycling: money and mi
Page 26 and 27: Essential and rare: the gold of the
Page 28 and 29: Interview e-Recycling: innovation a
Page 30 and 31: Outlook Aims for 2012: four winners
Page 32 and 33: Who says Switzerland has no natural
Page 34 and 35: ARF fund ARF fund: remains in the b
Page 36 and 37: ARF fund ARF fund for SENS applianc
Page 38 and 39: Operating account SENS operating ac
Page 40 and 41: Auditor’s report Auditor’s repo
Page 42 and 43: SLRS annual report SLRS annual repo
Page 44 and 45: Lighting up the whole of Lucerne. G
Page 46 and 47: Organogram SENS: competent and effi
Page 48 and 49: Thank you for taking me back. So th
Page 50 and 51: Partners Manufacturers / importers
Page 52 and 53: Partners Media Markt Verwaltungs AG
Page 54: Contact and imprint Contact SENS Pr

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