What are non-system participants?
We refer to manufacturers and importers who consciously decide against affiliating with a voluntary take-back system such as SENS eRecycling or Swico Recycling as non-system participants.
Non-system participants make no financial contribution to the disposal structure in Switzerland – this means that they do not support the financing of the nationwide collection system and the transportation of electrical appliances to the recycler.
What are system participants?
System participants, on the other hand, have affiliated with a voluntary system and make a financial contribution to the disposal structure in Switzerland.
They regularly report the number of electrical appliances sold by them to the system and pay the corresponding disposal contributions. The amount of the contribution per appliance is defined by the system in a tariff and appliance list.
Why is affiliation with a voluntary take-back system important?
All manufacturers and importers are subject to manufacturer responsibility – this includes the take-back obligation and proper disposal of appliances. By affiliating with a voluntary system, system participants are guaranteed to fully meet this responsibility.
The voluntary take-back systems SENS eRecycling and Swico Recycling have established a dense nationwide collection network over decades. This means that consumers are always able to dispose of their appliances in their immediate vicinity – largely without restrictions with respect to the number and brand of the appliances. This large number of take-back points contributes significantly to ensuring convenience for end customers and thus to the high collection rate in Switzerland. The system participants together bear the costs for the nationwide collection, logistics and recycling infrastructure.
Why are individual disposers non-system participants?
Certain manufacturers and importers have developed individual disposal solutions that also meet the legal requirements. If appliances that have been purchased from these manufacturers are also returned to them, this disposal solution also works. These manufacturers and importers are listed by us as non-system participants as they do not belong to the voluntary take-back system and thus do not make any financial contribution to the nationwide collection infrastructure. Appliances from such manufacturers and importers largely end up in our take-back system and their disposal is paid for by the system participants.