Everyday life is increasingly pervaded by electrical and electronic equipment. Due to the very rapid development of information technology, mobile telephones, computers and televisions quickly become obsolete. This increase in the volume of equipment produced generates growth in the demand for metal raw materials, on the one hand, and rise in the volumes of waste produced, on the other.

Ecological assessment

Electrical and electronic equipment mainly consists of metals, plastics and glass. It makes sense to recycle their material components as this closes material cycles. The appropriate disposal prevents heavy metals that are harmful to health (lead, cadmium, mercury) and other pollutants (e.g. PCBs) from entering the environment or products via recycling.

Electrical and electronic equipment should not be disposed of with household waste. Separate collection at source yields greater volumes of recyclable materials. Hence, it is more efficient and resource-conserving than recovery from slag after waste incineration.

Separate collection

Retailers, manufacturers and importers are obliged to accept used items of electrical and electronic equipment, in which they deal, free of charge. This obligation also applies if the customer does not purchase a new device or appliance. Consumers, in turn, are obliged to return equipment. The disposal of used equipment through municipal solid waste or bulk waste collections is prohibited. These regulations are contained in the Ordinance on the Return, Taking Back and Disposal of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (ORDEE). The following categories of electrically operated equipment are regulated by the ORDEE:

• Electronic entertainment equipment
• Office, information, communications technology equipment
• Refrigeration equipment
• Household equipment
• Tools (excluding large-scale, stationary industrial tools)
• Sport and leisure equipment and toys
• Luminaires and lighting control equipment

See also:

Disposal/recycling

Specialised disposal companies dismantle the electrical and electronic equipment partly manually and than process it mechanically. Problematic components (mercury switches, PCB capacitators, batteries) are dismantled or separated and undergo special disposal. The remaining fragments are separated. Fractions that can undergo material recycling are produced in this way: plastics, iron, aluminium and tin, zinc, nickel and precious metal alloys.

The dismantling and separation of equipment into fractions is mainly carried out in Switzerland. The other processing stages are often carried out abroad because non-ferrous metals processing systems, in particular, are not available in Switzerland.

In accordance with the Ordinance on Movements of Waste (OMW), electrical and electronic equipment is classified as "other controlled waste". Waste disposal companies in Switzerland that accept such equipment require the authorisation of the canton in which the equipment is located. The export and import of such waste requires the authorisation of the FOEN. Export to states that are not members of the OECD or EU is prohibited.

Only functioning equipment that can be operated as intended and does not contain any banned substances (e.g. CFCs) qualifies as used or second-hand equipment.

Finance

Collection and disposal are financed on a private-sector bases and carried out by three organisations: SENS, SWICO Recycling and SLRS. Based on voluntary sectoral solutions, an advance recycling contribution is included in the purchase price of all ORDEE equipment.

Action requirement

The ORDEE of 14 January 1998 is currently being revised. The central points for updating are to ensure the financial regulation of equipment recycling, adaptation to the state-of-the-art in waste disposal and alignment (harmonisation) with the EU in individual areas in which such a measure makes sense.

The rare technical metals merit particular attention with regard to the more rational use of resources. Their recovery from certain electronic equipment poses a logistical and technical challenge, particularly in view of the low concentrations present. The FOEN is currently investigating whether the recovery of rare technical metals from electronic components in Switzerland makes sense in economic and ecological terms.