Producer associations demand: The calculation method for electronic waste collection must be changed

The method of calculating the collection rate for WEEE does not take into account the long life cycle of many new devices. This situation threatens to result in a 175 million euro levy on Finland.

Circular economy specialist magazine Uusiouutiset wrote about it in November.

Domestic producer organizations are now demanding that the method of calculating the collection rate be changed. The topic was also discussed at the Producer Responsibility Evening organized by the Finnish Producers' Association Advisory Board (TYNK).

Distortion in the collection rate

The collection rate of electrical and electronic waste in Finland is 46 percent, compared to the EU target of 65 percent.

Approximately 74,000 tons of waste electrical and electronic equipment are collected in Finland annually, but according to statistics, the same amount of equipment remains uncollected.

The Commission proposes a solution in the form of a self-funding levy, which could amount to up to 175 million euros per year for Finland.

The fee is intended to encourage member states to improve the collection of equipment and will be paid if Parliament approves the Commission proposal.

As a second measure, the Commission proposes to pay consumers to return electrical and electronic equipment to a collection point.

Producer organizations responsible for the collection and recycling of electrical equipment are critical of the EU Commission's measures.

“Even if we collected devices at people’s doorsteps, we would still not achieve the collection rate with its current calculation method. If the Commission expects member states to achieve the targeted collection rate, its calculation method must be changed,” says the CEO of service company Elker Oy. Tuomas Rasänen.

“This requires a joint position from EU member states on the need to change the calculation method, as the same distortion of the collection rate applies to most member states that do not meet the set collection rate.”

“Unreasonable punishment”

The collection rate for electrical and electronic equipment is calculated by comparing the number of devices returned for collection to the number of devices placed on the market during the previous three years.

However, many factors distort the final result of the calculation. In reality, devices circulate efficiently in Finland, but a large part does not end up in official statistics.

For example, in recent years, a lot of new, important technology has been introduced, such as solar panels and air-source heat pumps, which do not replace previously used products.

They will only return to collection points decades later, but are currently dragging down the collection rate.

Used equipment exported abroad, such as electric scooters at the end of the season or equipment that ends up for recycling after being dismantled, is also not recorded in Finnish statistics.

“It seems unfair that Finland would be punished for not collecting products that could not actually be collected,” Räsänen sums up.

Text: Uusiuutisten editorial team

Photo: Jussi Ratilainen. Elker Oy's Tuomas Räsänen calls on EU member states to adopt a common position so that the collection rates of electrical and electronic waste are not calculated using the current, misleading methods. The collection rate has been planned in the EU as the basis for determining the new self-funding fee.