We all agree that eRecycling is important. The concept of sustainability is suddenly gaining in traction in an impressive manner, emphasised by the amount of raw materials recovered, the environmental impact points saved and the projects set up. Read on and find out what we achieve together every year.
How does the recycling of photovoltaic modules work?
The explanation is child’s play.
Are photovoltaic modules even recycled? If so, how and what is obtained from the recycling process? The Umwelt Arena (Environment Arena) aspired to make this complex topic easily accessible for small children. To do so, we have provided answers in a fun environment in the form of a recycling marble run and are already enjoying a large community of players in the Umwelt Arena Spreitenbach.
The Umwelt Arena in Spreitenbach has an area dedicated solely to renewable energies and thus also photovoltaics. The tour guides in the Umwelt Arena are constantly being asked whether photovoltaic modules are recycled. As a result, the Umwelt Arena got in touch with SENS eRecycling to create an exhibition on the topic of photovoltaic recycling so that the public could be provided with the correct information.
One exhibition has now grown into two. In the Recycling City exhibition area, we installed a marble run that helps visitors to learn in a fun manner how photovoltaic modules are recycled into metal, glass and plastic fractions.
The second exhibition is located on the top floor in the renewable energies area. Visitors are provided with a brief overview of the entire recycling process and the resultant fractions.
energyday 2018
Thank you for helping us to recycle old appliances.
Buying energy-efficient devices also means disposing of your old appliances. Our waste disposal partners make a valuable contribution towards the proper disposal of such appliances. SENS eRecycling would therefore like to give a huge THANK YOU on energyday 2018!
We all know that when you purchase a new appliance, you also need to dispose of the old appliance. And, hand on heart, are you aware of how easy it has been made for us to do so here in Switzerland? There are free return options for appliances from the same category at every point of sale as well as over 500 SENS collection points that take back electrical and electronic appliances free of charge – this is because disposal has already been paid for when purchasing the appliance via the advance recycling fee! We would thus like to give a huge THANK YOU to all those who support our waste disposal network, pick up and transport heavy appliances every day and ensure that recyclable materials from the old electrical and electronic appliances are put back into circulation.
SENS eRecycling thus supported energyday and thanked its waste disposal partners by providing sweet greetings in the form of Swiss chocolates. This was met with a great deal of positive feedback and we will happily provide the same level of support again in the future, as you can never say THANK YOU too often.
SENS eRecycling 2018: life cycle assessment
With its recycling of raw materials found in electrical and electronic waste, SENS eRecycling makes an important contribution to ensuring the reuse of recyclable materials.
In 2018 alone,
- 2,700 tonnes of aluminium were collected, enough to build 16 Airbus A380s;
- 47,000 tonnes of iron and steel were collected, enough to build 49 ICE long-distance trains;
- 12 kilograms of gold were collected, enough to produce around 240 wedding rings.
The environmental benefits of the electrical and electronic equipment recycling performed by SENS and its partners in 2018 were determined on the basis of a life cycle assessment. The calculated environmental benefits score of 2,890 billion environmental impact points (UBP) roughly equates to the annual environmental impact of the city of Bern (144,000 people). Some 98 per cent of the environmental benefits are generated through the prevention of pollutant emissions. The recycling of materials only accounts for 2 per cent.