Hazardous Waste
In a world where technology is constantly evolving and our consumption of electronics is increasing, it becomes increasingly important to manage electronics and batteries responsibly. We at Recipo are here to help you.
Why is it Important?
All electronic waste is classified as hazardous waste. E-waste contains many hazardous substances that can harm both people and the environment if not handled correctly. Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, as well as chemicals like brominated flame retardants and freon from old refrigerators, are just a few examples of substances that can cause serious problems.
Environmental Impact
When hazardous waste ends up in nature, it can contaminate soil and water, which in turn affects wildlife and ecosystems. By recycling electronics and batteries correctly, we reduce these risks and contribute to a sustainable future.
Collection
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency collects information about the hazardous waste that is transported and recycled in Sweden. As a connected customer of Recipo, you can get help with reporting to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s hazardous waste register. Contact us for more information.
Recycling
Electronic waste must be collected and processed to recover valuable materials and prevent hazardous substances from spreading in the environment. The recycling process includes disassembly, separation, and processing of various materials to maximize the recycling rate and minimize environmental impact. Early in the recycling process, hazardous substances and components are removed from other waste. Hazardous substances that are no longer allowed in electronics are destroyed so that they do not recirculate in new products.
Safe Handling
We ensure that all hazardous waste is handled in accordance with current environmental and safety regulations. Our partners are certified and trained to treat waste in a way that protects both people and the environment.
Examples of Hazardous Substances in E-Waste
The refrigerant in cooling appliances can contain environmentally hazardous freons. Therefore, the refrigerant is emptied in a sealed system so that no hazardous substances risk leaking out.
Some batteries contain hazardous substances such as mercury, lead, and cadmium. Therefore, all batteries are removed from the collected e-waste. The batteries are then sorted by type and treated in closed systems where environmentally hazardous substances do not risk spreading.
Screens can contain both flame retardants and mercury and are therefore separated from other e-waste. The screens are manually disassembled, and lamps that may contain mercury are handled separately. Plastics containing brominated flame retardants are separated from other plastics.
Connect your Company with us
To connect your company with us, simply fill out our form tick off which country or countries you want to take your producer responsibility and for which categories. Upon completion, you’ll receive an email containing a connection agreement and all the necessary information to manage your producer responsibility seamlessly.