ERP expands to Sweden

The European Recycling Platform (ERP), headquartered in Paris, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Swedish Electronics Recycling Association Elektronikåtervinningsföreningen (EÅF) to provide its full range of take-back services in the Swedish market.

The ERP, which operates in 15 countries, offers producer compliance for WEEE, batteries and packaging materials. Since forming, the ERP has collected for recycling more than 2 million metric tons of electronic scrap.

EAF, based in Sweden, is a collective take back and recycling system for electrical and electronic equipment and batteries.

Sweden’s decision to join the ERP was driven by a host of factors, including a growing number of requests from international electronics manufacturers that are ERP members who sought to use the groups’ recycling model in Sweden.

ERP officially began in Sweden in June, 2014, and producers are now able to activate their memberships with the group.

To assist in the transition between ERP and EAF, Martin Therkelsen, ERP’s Danish Country Manager, and Josef Tapper, EÅF’s Managing Director, have been designated to assist EAF in its entrance into the ERP network.

“Sweden is the largest country in the Nordic region, with a long tradition of collecting and recycling electronic waste,” says Therkelsen. “The country has substantial industries in the electrical and electronics sector, with exports to many European countries. The country also is a major importer of electronic goods from abroad. We are very pleased that ERP has entered the Swedish market and look forward to welcoming Swedish companies with international operations into our international network and collection system.”

EÅF began its collection system in 2007. The system is currently owned by the manufacturers and includes an insurance scheme that provides coverage for future costs associated with collection for recycling activities.

“I look forward to a long-term and close cooperation with ERP,” says Tapper. “I’m sure that this cooperation will bring about improved and increased recycling of electronics in Sweden and even healthier competition for producer responsibility on the Swedish market.”