European Recycling Platform to enter Swedish market
Florence Layer | 12 June 2014

European Recycling Platform (ERP) has recently announced a new partnership in Sweden with Elektronikåtervinningsföreningen (EÅF), the Electronics Recycling Association.

ERP works in ‘over 40 countries’ to offer producer compliance for waste electronic and electric equipment (WEEE), batteries and packaging.

Owned by electronics manufacturers, EÅF operates a collection system alongside an insurance scheme that ‘provides coverage for future costs associated with collection for recycling activities’.

Expanding ERP’s ‘efficient recycling model’

It is reported that the move is in response to the demand from international electronics manufacturers for ERP's ‘efficient recycling model’ to encompass Sweden.

The partnership with EÅF is set to start in June 2014, yet producers can already apply for membership.

ERP is currently present in neighbouring Nordic countries, and it is suggested that its ‘experience and expertise’ gained from ‘running successful operations’ there, can be extended to the Swedish market.

ERP Denmark’s Country Manager, Martin Therkelsen, will work alongside EÅF’s Managing Director, Josef Tapper, to bring EÅF within ERP’s network.

‘Even healthier competition on the Swedish market’

Speaking on the new partnership, Martin Therkelsen from ERP said: "Sweden is the largest country in the Nordic region, with a long tradition of collecting and recycling electronic waste.

"The country has a thriving electrical and electronics industry, which exports to many European countries, and it is also a major importer of electronic goods from abroad. We are very pleased that Sweden is now entering ERP’s network, and we look forward to welcoming Swedish companies into our international collection system."

Josef Tapper, the Managing Direcor of EÅF, said that the partnership “will improve and increase electronics recycling in Sweden, and provide even healthier competition on the Swedish market".

EuropePlus package

ERP also recently launched its EuroPlus package, which aims to ‘makes it easy’ for manufacturers and importers of electrical products to meet the obligations of the revised Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Directive.

Through its EuropePlus package, ERP claim to be the first company to offer a Europe-wide collection and recycling of electronic waste and batteries.

Read more about ERP.

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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?

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There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.