European secondary smelters promote WEEE standards

As part of wider efforts to ensure the proper treatment of electronic scrap (WEEE), four of the largest copper and precious metal refinery companies in Europe—Aurubis, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany; Boliden Group, headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden; Glencore, based in Switzerland; and Umicore, based in Brussels—have worked with the European Electronics Recyclers Association (EERA) to define normative requirements and governing principles for final processing of obsolete electronics. The EERA’s objective includes gaining influence at the EU level for the recycling industry and helping to direct the electronics recycling industry's growth throughout Europe.

Following the consultation, the four companies have come up with what they are terming the WEEE end-processing standard, which has been co-produced with Eurometaux, the European Association of Metals, Brussels. The standards were finalized this past spring. At that time, each of the four companies was invited to implement its requirements as part of its total quality management.

The EERA and Eurometaux say all four have signed the agreement to implement the standard within the next two years.

The EERA and Eurometaux say they are seeking to bring in more companies to adopt the standards. Further, the two groups also say they hope recyclers will be encouraged to reference the end-processing standard as a requirement in their contracts with WEEE take-back systems, WEEE recyclers or end processors.

Peter Willbrandt, CEO of Aurubis AG, says, “Aurubis, as the largest copper recycler worldwide and one of the major international companies involved in the processing of electrical and electronic equipment materials and fractions, has actively contributed to the standard signed. Environment protection is one of the pillars of our corporate policy. Sustainable management of our business and operations is a central element of our strategy. Therefore, we welcome the new standard and express our sincere hope that further companies and associations will become signatories to the present standard.”

Kerstin Konradsson, president of Boliden, says, ”With our over 30 years of recycling experience, and as a world leader in e-scrap recycling, Boliden is very proud to have been part of developing the end-processing standard. By complying with this new recycling standard, we believe that further steps towards a more sustainable society are taken.”

Meanwhile, Hugo Morel, Umicore’s executive vice president for recycling, says, “Umicore is satisfied that this standard has been created to help set a level playing field in the world of e-scrap recycling. This should undermine inappropriate recycling operations that rely on environment unsound and unethical sourcing. As one of the largest and most complex precious metals recycling activities in the world we are proud to have participated, within the industry and together with expert organizations, to this important step towards a more sustainable recycling chain.”

Claude Bélanger, general manager of Glencore’s Horne Smelter, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, observes, “The Horne has always been very supportive of the end processing standard, as it reflects both the Horne Smelter’s own standards and practices which have been in place for many years. As a major consumer of preprocessed end-of-life electronics, the Horne smelter views this standard as a major step for the electronic recycling industry and a step in the right direction with regard to other industry standards being developed. Sustainable management of resources is a must in our industry, and the standard being signed today a demonstration that it can only be achieved through rigorous and constant controls. The Horne is proud to have participated in the development of this standard and to have reached consensus with other major end processors.”