2024-04-05 06:54:46
The figures for electronic waste collection at Recupel are on the rise once more for 2023, following having shown a decline in 2022, rejoices the non-profit organization.
All Belgians collected no less than 127,852 tonnes of electronic waste in 2023, according to figures from Recupel. An augmentation of 7,1% compared to 2022, when an unusual drop was noted. And which brings us back to the level of the record year 2021. In total, 41.8 million household appliances were collected.
“The cleaning and tidying effect due to the pandemic slowed down somewhat in 2022,” explains Recupel CEO Eric Dewaet in a press release. “Combined with a energy crisis and the start of the war in Ukraine, this reduced collection volumes. Thanks to the many efforts of both consumers and businesses as well as the partners with whom we work, Fortunately, we were able to reverse this trend.“
More than 90% of the devices collected by the non-profit organization last year were household electronic devices, the rest being professional appliances such as large refrigerators, professional printers and catering equipment. With an increase here from 6,500 tonnes of professional devices in 2022 to 8,830 tonnes in 2023 (+35.8%).
A second life for electronic devices
Large household appliances constitute more than a quarter of the items collected by Recupel, totaling 27,882 tonnes (+4.2%). It is thus ahead of refrigerators and freezers, which represent 25,048 tonnes (+ 8.2%). On the other hand, televisions and monitors recorded a decrease to 8,989 tonnes (- 4%). The “other” category, which includes small household appliances such as mobile phones and chargers, represents more than two thirds of recycled devices, or 44,550 tonnes (+ 6.1%).
Of the 127,852 tonnes collected, 6,764 tonnes were reintroduced into the reuse circuitan increase of 38% compared to 2022.
On average, each Belgian reported 11 kg of electrical appliances used at a Recupel point, whether in recycling parks, stores or Ressourceries. According to the most recent data from the Global E-Waste Monitor, this positions our country above the European average (7.5 kg per capita) and global (6.6 kg in Australia, 4.2 kg in America, 0.7 kg in Asia and only 0.01 kg in Africa).
“It is positive to see that more and more Belgians are becoming aware of the importance of giving a second life to their old devices. However, we must not rest on our laurels. There is still a untapped potential of 50 million electronic devices in our homes”, underlines Eric Dewaet.
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