127,852 tonnes of discarded electronic appliances and light bulbs
Back on track.
collected in 2023
An increase of 7.1%
Examining the volume (in tonnes) by category, we see:
Large white goods (e.g. washing machines)
Fridges and freezers
Light bulbs
Other (from mobile phones to lawnmowers)
Smoke detectors
Televisions & monitors
Professional equipment
collected in 2023
An increase of 2.8%
Examining each category in units, we see:
Large white goods (e.g. washing machines)
Fridges and freezers
Light bulbs
Other (from mobile phones to lawnmowers)
Smoke detectors
Televisions & monitors
Over the last year, consumers and businesses collectively put 1,613,291 discarded appliances back into circulation. In terms of volume, we are talking 6,764,188 kg of reusable goods, a whopping 38% increase! By maximising our focus on reuse, we will be able to spend a lot less energy and resources on new appliances. What's more, this also creates valuable jobs for those who might struggle to find employment, checking and repairing the collected appliances. At the same time, it means lower earners can find affordable and quality appliances in second-hand stores and reuse centres.
BELGIUM - ELECTRO SOFIE
Second-hand outlets and reuse centres managed to put just under 2,500 tonnes of discarded appliances back into circulation, a solid 7% increase compared to 2022.
Approved recyclers collect old appliances on behalf of Recupel, with some even seeing to the reuse of these appliances themselves. In 2023, they were able to breathe new life into over 1,000 tonnes of professional and household appliances.
Recupel members, manufacturers and distributors of electrical appliances put 3,189,737 kg of discarded and returned appliances back into circulation in 2023.
Our recycling rates are still on the up. In 2022, our recyclerswere already recycling 82.3% of collected appliances and light bulbs. Last year, this share rose to 83.1%. On top of that, we managed to recover 1% as auxiliary materials for use in other processes, while incinerating 11.3% to generate energy.
Per category:
Recycling centres are a crucial link within the circular economy. In Belgium, we operate a total 544 centres.
Shops selling electrical appliances and electronic devices have a legal obligation to accept similar devices from customers for processing. They can register as a collection point for this purpose. Spread throughout Belgium, these accounted for 11,728 collection points in 2023. 2,660 of these shops also have a Recupel Point, which are handy containers for customers to deposit small electrical appliances and light bulbs.
In 2023, we worked with 26 Flemish reuse centres, as well as 15 members of Ressources in Brussels and Wallonia. These repair discarded appliances when necessary and re-prep them for sale in second-hand stores.
Companies can bring discarded electrical appliances directly to one of our approved recyclers for proper disposal. Recupel has a network of 89 approved recyclers: 75 collectors and 14 processors.
KU Leuven’s HIVA Research Institute for Work and Society has mapped out Recupel’s entire value chain. In total, the research institution identified 1,734 full-time equivalents (FTEs) within the organisation, most of them working in collection and recycling.
Our entire value chain counts over 1,000 social economy employees, accounting for a 61% share. The majority of people who might have trouble finding a job, are employed in the repair and reuse sector. As for recycling, one third of employees are in the social economy.