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WEEE door to door collection
Published on 25 June 2019
Bulgaria
Yugozapaden
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
More than 1,000 kinds of materials are used in the production of EEO, as well as their components, some of which are toxic like chlorinated solvents, brominated flame retardants, PVC, heavy metals (such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and hexavalent chromium), plastics and gases. The separate collection system for WEEE reduces the potential hazards to man and the nature caused by these wastes by significantly increasing the amount of WEEE reused, recycled and recovered. For regulated delivery of old and non-working electrical equipment, businesses and citizens can benefit from a free mobile group visit at the address of their home/organization that will pick them up and provide all necessary documents attesting to their legitimate recycling. Requests can be made by phone or email at customer service centre, which works for extended working hours: Monday through Saturday from 08: 30 to 19:30. The collection is organized by two private companies (Eltechresource and Ecobultex). The collected WEEE are proceed for preliminary treatment, second use, recycling and/or recovery. In 2018 the collection companies manage to organize the preliminary treatment of 23 406,74 t.WEEE:•94,37% recovery, recycling and second use of category 1WEEE;•92,21% recovery, recycling and second use of category 2WEEE;•95,27% recovery, recycling and second use of category 3 WEEE;•89,17% recovery, recycling and second use of category 5WEEE;•87,51% recovery, recycling and second use of category 6 WEEE.
Expert opinion
The European Green Deal and the revised Waste Framework Directive set out to boost the rates of separate collection and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in order to divert it from landfill or illegal export towards reuse and recycling. It is thus important to implement systems for the prevention, collection and management of an increasing amount of electrical and electronic equipment that forms more and more part of everyday life. This excellent good practice will be an inspiration for regions that still need to set-up a functioning WEEE collection system with a view to increasing the recovery and recycling rates of this complex waste stream.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
There is no additional public information about the amount of resources invested in current good practice.
Funding sources: Company own resources
Funding sources: Company own resources
Evidence of success
There is no public information related to the amount of collected WEEE annually using current good practicee, but still the initiative is spreading to other companies as well.
Potential for learning or transfer
The organization of a separate collection system for WEEE is an activity that requires significant financial resources and therefore the most acceptable option for Sofia Municipality to fulfill the obligations to organize the separate collection of WEEE is to contract with recovery organizations. The agreements do not link Sofia Municipality with a financial commitment to the WEEE recovery organization. The organizations receive funds based on the EU's core principles - "polluter pays" and "extended producer responsibility". Therefore the organizations perform their work in agreement with the members of the collective system, against payment of a fee for electrical and electronic equipment manufactured or imported / brought into the territory of the country. The activity of separate collection, transport, treatment and recovery of WEEE generated in the household is implemented and financed by the recovery organization.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Sofia Municipality
Bulgaria
Yugozapaden
Contact
Chief expert