Small step for Wecycle, giant leap for e-scrap recycling?

The Netherlands – In a bid to highlight the recyclability of even the smallest electronics, the Netherlands’ Wecycle service has commissioned a fleet of miniature collection trucks for Madurodam – a park which showcases scale-model replicas of famous Dutch sights.

On average, small electronic devices and light bulbs account for an estimated 35 million kg of the discarded products ending up in Dutch refuse bins each year, according to Wecycle. The recycling authority underlines that, contrary to the common perception, small electronic devices comprise up to 75% recyclable content ‘with light bulbs even boasting 90% recyclability’.

Extending the collection fleet to the narrow yet widely-viewed streets of Madurodam is intended to ‘highlight that handing in discarded devices and light bulbs is an integral part of everyday life’. Wecycle reasons: ‘After all, Madurodam provides a realistic view of Dutch society.’

According to the recycling service’s figures, an increasing number of consumers handed over their old light bulbs last year – most notably (22%) at stores; this contrasts starkly with the 3% recorded in 2011. The rise in popularity of commercial take-back locations can be explained by the abundance of Wecycle collection bins that have become available there, according to its Managing Director Jan Vlak.

For more information, visit: www.wecycle.eu