Metal recycler

Do you produce or import (products with built-in) batteries and/or accumulators? And do you sell these to Dutch companies or consumers? If so, you have a producer responsibility. You are subject to the European Battery regulation.

Do the check! Answer a few questions and see the results immediately. Then you will know what next steps to take.

Are you the first to introduce electronic or electrical appliances to the Dutch market? If so, as an importer or producer, you have a legal responsibility as defined in the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (WEEE). Starting from March 1, 2021, Stichting OPEN is responsible for ensuring compliance with producer responsibilities. As of that date, all producers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment must meet their legal obligations through Stichting OPEN.

Because we are stronger together. In more than one way. The partnership is mainly the result of the need for a more integrated approach to the collection and recycling of batteries and electrical appliances. This will eventually lead to efficiency improvements through the integration of systems and processes, a stronger representation of producer interests and a greater influence on policy.

The short answer:

In a legal sense, it concerns a merger between Stichting OPEN and Stichting Stibat Services, which is the administrative organisation of Stichting Batterijen.

The longer answer:

Stichting OPEN and Stichting Batterijen have entered into a partnership at both the administrative and the operational level. One aspect of this partnership is the merger between Stichting OPEN and the administrative organisation of Stichting Batterijen (Stichting Stibat Services). Through the Batteries Federation, Stichting Batterijen (for importers and producers of portable batteries) and Stichting EPAC (for importers and producers of bicycle batteries) join the governance structure of Stichting OPEN.

Your organisation will primarily experience (positive) changes with regard to communication, processes and access to a broader range of services. The merger will hardly affect your daily operational processes, if at all. Likewise, any direct contacts you have will be unaffected.

The key benefits are a stronger collective voice, improved efficiency through the eventual integration of systems and processes, a potential reduction of long-term costs and a stronger negotiating position with the government and other stakeholders.

The merger is the result of the need for a more integrated approach to the collection and recycling of batteries and electrical appliances. This will lead to a stronger representation of producer interests and a greater influence on policy.

The merger is aimed at streamlining collection processes and optimising efficiency. Eventually, there will be a single collection point for all e-waste and batteries. This takes up less space and sends a clearer message to your customers. In the future, we can also integrate and further improve collection requests and the underlying logistical processes.

For now, you can continue to submit collection requests for e-waste in the usual manner. Collection requests for batteries are best submitted online at www.stichting-open.org/en/collection-service. The collection frequency will remain the same for the time being. Our goal is to visit you within five to ten working days of receiving your collection request.

If you currently have an agreement with Stibat for the collection and/or sorting of portable batteries, this agreement will automatically transfer to a new subsidiary of Stichting OPEN called ‘Afvalbeheerstructuur batterijen BV’. Note: your fees will be paid out from a new bank account number in name of the aforementioned organisation from 1 January 2024.

Nothing will change in the short term. As an importer/producer of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), you will continue to submit your statements via the familiar MyOPEN portal. The following applies to importers/producers of batteries: you will continue to use MyBatbase to submit your monthly, quarterly or annual statement for 2023. In part because of the new joint platform, you only have to submit your annual statement for 2024 in January of 2025. Per January 2024, a number of major participants will receive periodical provisional invoices from Stichting OPEN. If that is the case for your organisation, you will receive a personalised update about this.

The new Battery Directive entered into force in August 2023. Producers must increase the collection percentage (currently 45%) to 63% by 2027. Even without this goal, the costs of collection, transport, processing and recycling are increasing. We all have to do our part to absorb these price increases. Furthermore, the necessary stronger focus on safety also contributes to higher rates for the processing of batteries. The basic principle of the rate differentiation is that each type of battery (depending on its chemical composition) must be able to pay for its ‘own’ collection and recycling costs. After all, different compounds – from zinc and manganese to nickel and lithium – have a different environmental impact.
As a foundation, we strive to perform our compliance duties adequately and in a cost-effective manner to ensure that importers and producers unequivocally meet their producer responsibility.

The rates for some product groups are increasing as a result of various market developments. In particular, investments in safety and higher collection rates as well as rising costs due to increased fuel prices and wage costs factor into these inevitable rate increases.

For EEE participants, the current agreement will not be affected. As a participant in the current Stibat, you will move to Stichting OPEN per 1 January 2024 under the (new) General Binding Statement.

No, the method for returning batteries at any of our collection points will not be affected. At some point, consumers will note the discontinuation of the Stibat logo and the eventual integration of the collection points into a single ‘column’ where they can deposit both e-waste and batteries.

Initially, all business stakeholders are being informed. Next, consumers will be informed via our website, social media, events and at the collection points themselves.

Yes, the merger will positively affect the environmental impact of battery recycling. The more integrated approach to the collection and processing of e-waste and empty batteries allows us to operate more efficiently and contribute even more to a healthier environment.

Consumers can contribute by returning both batteries and e-waste at our collection points, which are listed on our website. We also value feedback on our services, so we can continue to improve them.

The merger may lead to new policy initiatives, mainly because it will give the organisation a stronger voice during discussions about producer responsibility and recycling targets. Details about such initiatives will be shared when they are available.

The partnership will strengthen the Netherlands’ position in terms of the recycling of e-waste and batteries because our stronger ‘apparatus’ allows us to stimulate innovation and sustainability like never before. This means we can potentially contribute to the Netherlands’ leading role within Europe when it comes to waste management and the circular economy.

You can register quickly and easily through the portal “myOPEN” Stichting OPEN – Registration (stichting-open.org). As soon as we have received your registration, we will contact you to further explain a number of points. We will notify you when it is time to report. If you still have questions about this, feel free to contact Producer Services Department. They can be reached by email producenten@stichting-open.org but you can also call 079 7600 630.

The waste management levy, also known as the waste-management fee, is an amount that every producer and importer of electrical and electronic devices must pay to Stichting OPEN. This fee is determined based on the quantity of electrical and electronic appliances that a producer and/or importer introduces to the market annually.

The waste management fee comprises operational costs, system costs, and a fixed contribution. Operational costs include expenses related to the collection, transport, sorting, and processing of waste electrical and electronic appliances. System costs cover expenses for organization, communication, research, controls, audits, and more. The fixed contribution is a set amount per producer or importer, which covers costs not included in the operational or system costs, such as the contribution to the National (W)EEE Register (NWR). For the reporting year 2022/2023, the contribution to the National (W)EEE Register is set at EUR 75. Stichting OPEN directly invoices these costs as a fixed amount to the producers and/or importers of electrical and electronic appliances and transfers this amount in full to the National (W)EEE Register.

List electrical and electronic equipment of 2023 can be downloaded. here.

List electrical and electronic equipment of 2024 can be downloaded here.

List batteries of 2023 can be downloaded here.

List batteries of 2024 can be downloaded here.

MyOPEN 2.0 batteries overview

The waste management levy, often referred to as the waste management fee, is an obligatory payment that every importer and producer of electrical and electronic devices must make to Stichting OPEN. This fee is designed to establish a level playing field, with fixed rates determined annually based on expected Put on Market (PoM) figures and anticipated operational costs. Through the waste management fee, we collectively contribute to covering the costs of collection, transportation, processing, sorting, and associated overhead expenses. You can find the 2023 product and rate list here.

In some European countries, a WEEE registration number is mandatory. In the Netherlands, the National (W)EEE Register does not utilize this system. To demonstrate your compliance with producer responsibilities in the Netherlands, you can refer to the website of the National (W)EEE Register, where you will find a list of importers and producers. The Stichting OPEN website also maintains an up-to-date list of importers and producers.

Yes, all energy-efficient lamps are covered by the WEEE regulation. For portable batteries and bicycle batteries, a separate, similar regulation exists, with implementation assigned to StiBat. Starting from January 1, 2024, the responsibility for portable batteries and bicycle batteries will also fall under the purview of Stichting OPEN.

The Basics
Metal recyclers can participate if their permit allows them to collect e-waste and if they meet the requirements of the MRF Hallmark or comparable.
Those companies can register with the OPEN Foundation and sign a contract with Stichting OPEN.

Handing over and payments
The collecting metal recyclers keep the e-waste separated and they deliver the material to the CENELEC processor participating in the scheme. These are listed on the website of Stichting OPEN.
The processor reports the received weight of e-waste to Stichting OPEN.
Stichting OPEN pays € 125 per ton to the metal recycler that handed over the material.

You will receive an annual notification that your statement is ready in myOPEN portal. You can find the relevant statement under the ‘Statement Overview’ section. We have approximately 70 product categories into which you can classify your product range. For each product category, you are required to report the total weight and the total number of units. In myOpen, you will find a product finder that can assist you in correctly classifying your products. Of course, you can also contact the Producer Services department at producenten@stichting-open.org.

*Please note that to effectively monitor the Put on Market activity throughout the year, some participants submit quarterly statements. Due to changes in tariffs for solar panels in 2023, companies that place solar panels on the market for the 2023 specification year will submit their statements every six months. This change only applies to those who typically submit annual statements.

Auto- en Scheepssloperij Treffers BV, Hendrik Figeeweg 35 in Haarlem

Bossche IJzer- en Metaalhandel Van Erp BV, Ketelaarskampweg 46 in ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Collin BV, James Cookweg 8 in Venlo

Coolrec Nederland BV, Grevelingenweg 3 te Dordrecht

De Graaf Metaal B.V., Hertzstraat 10 in Purmerend

Emmer Schroot- en Metaalhandel B.V., Albatrosstraat 2 in Emmen

Gebroeders Jansen Ijzer en Metaalhandel B.V., Coevorderkanaal 9-A in Coevorden

Heinhuis IJzer & Metaalrecycling BV, Ballastweg 10 in Eibergen

Helmondse Schroothandel BV, Deurneseweg 1 in Helmond

Helmondse Schroothandel Waalwijk BV, Industrieweg 57 in Waalwijk

HKS Scrap Metals B.V., Kwadrantweg 72 in Amsterdam

HKS Scrap Metals B.V., Sportlaan 50 in Eindhoven

HKS Scrap Metals B.V., Oude Boekeloseweg 38 in Hengelo

HKS Scrap Metals B.V., Kleverskerkseweg 65 in Middelburg

HKS Scrap Metals B.V., Graanweg 18 in Moerdijk

HKS Scrap Metals B.V., Nijverheidsweg 72 in Nijmegen

HKS Scrap Metals B.V., De Kalkovens 30 in Zwartsluis

Holland Recycling, Schouwrooij 8 in Boxtel

Hoogeveense Metaal Recycling B.V., Fokkerstraat 4 in Hoogeveen

Huiskes Boer Metaal BV, Scottweg 17 in Goes

Huiskes Metaal BV, Veerweg 9 in Waalwijk

J. Helmond & Zn Metaalhandel, Rijksstraatweg 53C in Culemborg

J.J. Vos & Zn, Rijksweg 17 in Den Helder

Jacomij Electronics Recycling B.V., Molenvliet 25 in Wijk bij Duurstede

Korlaar BV, Nijverheidsweg 5 in SOEST

Krommenhoek Metals b.v., Linschotenstraat 21 in Rotterdam

Metaalhandel W. Ketting & Zn BV, Bakkersoordsekade 4-16 Havennummer 2918 in Pernis

Mirec B.V., Hastelweg 251 in Eindhoven

Nannings Metaalhandel B.V., Kernweg 24 in Hoorn

Nehlsen Metaal Recycling Nederland B.V., Gdanskweg 45 in Groningen

Noord Nederlandse Schrootverwerking, Oostelijke Industrieweg 23 in Franeker

P. Knobel BV, Vaartkant 1a in ROOSENDAAL

PreZero Scheemda – (voorheen Virol), Dollardweg 1 in Midwolda

Prometaal, Westkanaaldijk 20 in Maarssen

Raak Metals BV, Ledeboerstraat 62 in Tilburg

RD Metals BV, Planckstraat 63 in Dordrecht

Regelink Schroothandel, Haatlandhaven 4 in Kampen

Riwald BV, Buitenhaven Oostzijde 2 in Almelo

Simmeren Schroot BV, Winschoterweg 1a in Groningen

Springers De Roeck Recycling BV, Kruisbaken 14 in Zaandam

Steenhuis Recycling BV, Renselweg 1a in Winschoten

Stolwerk Metaal B.V., Valveeken 5 in Breda

Van der Meulen Metaal B.V., Einsteinweg 16 in Leeuwarden

Van Gerrevink BV, Sint-Maarten 2 in Apeldoorn

Van Leeuwen Papier- en Metaalhandel BV, De Hooge Krocht 155 in Noordwijk

Van Leeuwen Recycling Groep, Doklaan 22 in Rotterdam

Van Munster Recyclers, Keltenweg 40 in Oss

Van Pelt Recycling B.V., Klompenmakerstraat 10 in Ridderkerk

Metal recyclers who are members of the MRF and who are allowed to collect e-waste according to their permit. Companies that are not members of the MRF may also participate, however, in that case they must be able to demonstrate that they meet the requirements of the MRF Quality Mark (www.mrf.nl/keurmerk). For this purpose, you can contact one of the certifying organisations listed on the MRF site, which will check whether your company meets the requirements. You can then immediately start delivering e-waste to any of the participating CENELEC processors. After a successful audit by the certifying organisation, you will receive a retrospective payment of the fee. The participating certification organisations are published on the MRF website, where you will also find information on the MRF Quality Mark. Alternatively, ISO9001 and ISO14001 are allowed provided that the provisions of chapter 4.6 of the MRF Quality Mark (WEEE) are included in the scope. Another alternative is the NEN standard NVN-CLC/TS 50625-4.

It is in the interest of a sustainable and circular society that e-waste is properly processed after use. This goal can only be achieved if metal recyclers hand over the collected e-waste for processing to electronics processors with a CENELEC certificate. The cooperation of metal recyclers is therefore crucial, which is why this E-waste Incentive Scheme was created. With this, collectors are financially rewarded for every ton of e-waste that is properly delivered to a processor.

For small quantities, there are two options:

Wholesale

Wecycle collection bins are located at 100 (technical) wholesalers for small quantities of discarded small electrical appliances and energy-efficient light bulbs. Luminaires can be handed in free of charge when purchasing a new product. You can find the nearest drop-off point on the WecycleFinder.

Your own municipality

In many municipalities, you can dispose of up to seven packages at a time free of charge at the recycling centre.

For large quantities of discarded appliances, lamps and fixtures, we make collection equipment available free of charge and collect and dispose of them free of charge. In the questions below (How can I dispose of small amounts of e-waste and How can I dispose of large amounts of e-waste) you can see which collection means there are and what the conditions are for this.  When these are full, you can register them via our digital portal: MyOPEN (see the button at the top right).

This also applies to solar panels. Since 1 March 2021, all producers and importers of solar panels are obliged to join the OPEN foundation. The OPEN Foundation is responsible for the collection and recycling of solar panels and all associated activities. If you are an installer or dismantling company and you want to offer solar panels for recycling, you can register via the registration form on MyOPEN, the matching collection will be arranged for you.

Distribution centre
Is your installation company part of a chain with its own distribution centre? Then you can hand in discarded lamps and luminaires through your own return logistics. We will collect them from the distribution centre.

Welcome! You can sign up through our portal MyOpen. A button is located at the top right of this site. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

The OPEN Foundation only works with CENELEC certified parties. This currently concerns the following parties that carry out mechanical processing activities for the OPEN Foundation in the Netherlands: Statice, Mirec, Riwald, Coolrec, Huiskes Metaal, HKS Metals;

In Germany:
Remondis, Stena, Enviprotect

and in Belgium:
Indaver, Recydel and BNE.

In addition, the OPEN Foundation works with a large number of parties that provide manual dismantling and are CENELEC certified for this purpose.

These can be downloaded here.

If your company operates in multiple European countries, you have the option to consolidate your producer responsibility with a single entity, such as WEEE Europe or Weee Nederland. These organizations can establish contracts with various European collection systems, allowing you to streamline your reporting for all of Europe through an online portal.

WEEE Europe is a collaborative effort involving several European collectives, including the OPEN Foundation. This Germany-based company serves as a one-stop-shop for businesses operating in multiple European countries and offers the following services:

• Arranging contracts with diverse European collection systems.
• Providing an online portal for centralized reporting across Europe.

For further information, please visit the WEEE Europe website or contact Producers Services of Stichting OPEN by e-mail.

OPEN Foundation supports petting zoos with an annual sponsorship of €250. When placing the first order in the year in question, you will automatically receive a proposal by e-mail with an amount of €250 that you may invoice to us. Upon receipt of this email, please send an invoice for €250, formatted as a pdf, to invoice_wecycle@wecycle.nl.

Jekko is the practical home collection box in which you can easily collect discarded small electrical appliances, energy-efficient light bulbs and batteries. Each partner farm can order free Jekkos for their visitors via MyOPEN.

This combined collection unit is located at the petting zoos in The Hague and Rotterdam and is paid for by the municipalities. Petting zoos that have questions about this can contact Hans de Rijk at info@kinderboerderijenactief.nl.

Yes, if you are a processor that meets all legal requirements. E-waste may only be processed by CENELEC certified companies in the Netherlands. This certification means that you demonstrably work according to the uniform rules for collection, transport, processing and storage of waste electrical appliances. This also gives you the obligation to accurately record and report how much e-waste comes in and is processed. It also imposes an obligation to demonstrate where materials go and what recycling result you achieve (material recycling and useful application). As a processor you are legally responsible to be able to demonstrate this.

You see the myOpen button on this site. Here you will find all the important information for a good collaboration.

Since March 1, 2021, all producers and importers of solar panels are required to join the OPEN foundation. The OPEN foundation takes care of the collection and recycling of solar panels and all activities that go with it. If you are an installer or dismantling company and want to offer solar panels for recycling, you can register via the MyOPEN button on the homepage of this site.

We can be of service to you at a project location where many lamps and/or luminaires are released in a short period of time. We would like to ask you to register first via the MyOPEN button at the top right of this website. Once you have done this, you can request collection resources that match the nature and scope of the project. We will then contact you to make an appointment. There is always a minimum amount you can apply for at a time. We would like to ask you to keep details of dimensions/numbers of fixtures ready. The removal and recycling by us is free of charge.

If you have smaller quantities of e-waste please see the question and answer below.

Every store has the following legal obligations:

Physical stores

If your customer buys an electrical appliance or energy-efficient lamp, you are required to take in a similar product. This is called the “old-for-new” rule. This obligation applies to both physical stores and online stores.

Your store is obliged to clearly communicate the ‘old-for-new’ regulation to the customers. We help our collection partners with this by providing a free vignette, which can be downloaded from MyOPEN.

If your store has a sales area for electrical appliances of more than 400m2, you are obliged to accept all discarded small electrical appliances, even if your customer does not make a purchase. A small appliance will fit in a normal shopping bag.

Online stores

If your customer buys an electrical appliance or energy-efficient lamp, you are required to take a similar product. This is called the ‘old-for-new’ rule.

Your store is required to clearly communicate the ‘old-for-new’ regulation to your customers before completing the payment process on the website

We work together with 13,000 collection points. Shops that collect appliances and light bulbs without the customer having to make a purchase are listed on the WecycleZoeker.

We offer recycling shops a compensation of cost (excl. VAT) based on the quantity/type of appliances offered:

• Large white goods appliances and cooling/freezing appliances
  €6 per appliance
• Small Electrical and ICT Devices
  €2 per full box
  €1 per other device that does not fit in the box for small electrical and ICT devices
• CRT TVs and monitors
  €4 per device
• Flat screen televisions and monitors
  € 3 per device

Shops that provide electrical appliances sorted into five fractions (as specified above) on a large scale (in containers) from a distribution centre receive a cost compensation of EUR 140 per tonne.

Please contact the OPEN Foundation, Operations department, to discuss the possibilities.

Physical and online shops have legal obligations concerning waste appliances, but these do not apply to thrift shops.

Also electrical appliances that have been given a second life through the thrift shop will be disposed of one day. Are you a recycling company? Then you can also work with us. We provide you and your customers the certainty that (small) electrical appliances are managed in a responsible way, also during the disposal phase.

MyOPEN is our portal for our (municipal) partners. You’ll see the login button at the top right of this site.

We support social return on investment (SROI) in various ways. In our Service Centers people with a distance to the labor market work. They sort and disassemble electrical appliances. We also work together with some 200 (municipal) recycling companies. These often employ people with a distance to the labor market. Is your municipality interested in social return and does it have sufficient scale in discarded appliances? Please contact us, we would like to discuss the possibilities with you.

Hundreds of schools and BSOs receive our fun and educational teaching materials on e-waste each year. Schools and other interested parties can find more information at Wecycle.

Do you want to deploy Jekkos? Nice to hear. We would like to ask you to order via the MyOPEN-button. There you can also read the conditions. The most important condition is that Jekkos that are distributed randomly or door-to-door are not free of charge.

Yes, to ensure that luminaires do not end up in the scrap yard, we offer several solutions. These are supported by a collection fee. Please contact us for this.

Is your collection unit for electrical appliances or lamps (almost) full? Place a pickup request by logging into our MyOpen portal.

Is your collection unit for batteries (almost) full? Please place a pickup request using this form.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Check the About Us page for the correct phone number.

If you export electrical appliances that can be reused abroad, it’s essential to comply with Dutch laws and regulations, which require reporting. This reporting can be done directly with the National (W)EEE Register or through Stichting OPEN, offering the convenience of making this declaration in one place with our assistance, if needed. Additionally, we provide an administrative fee for your cooperation. By reporting, you help us gain insight into the quantities of appliances that are no longer available for collection in the Netherlands.

Please note that as a client or exporter you are responsible for a number of rules surrounding the testing, packaging and labeling of the electrical and electronic equipment used; you will find these rules here: Export van gebruikte elektrische en elektronische apparatuur | Producentenverantwoordelijkheid | Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (ILT) (ilent.nl)

Foreign producers who introduce electrical or electronic equipment to the Dutch market can directly become members of Stichting OPEN without the requirement to appoint an authorized representative. Since March 1st, Stichting OPEN has assumed producer responsibility for all producers, including foreign ones, operating in the Netherlands. With its broadly applicable waste management fee agreement, Stichting OPEN effectively fulfills the role of an authorized representative. Therefore, Stichting OPEN believes that appointing an authorized representative is unnecessary and less efficient.

Foreign producers who fulfill their obligations under the waste management fee agreement with Stichting OPEN can receive a compliance statement. This statement can be presented in their own country to demonstrate compliance with Dutch legislation regarding producer responsibility for electrical and electronic equipment. For further information on how Stichting OPEN handles the role of the authorized representative, please refer to our statement.

While foreign producers have the freedom to appoint an authorized representative, Stichting OPEN believes it is not required in this context.

If you export electrical waste for processing abroad, it’s essential to comply with Dutch laws and regulations. In this case, you may either be the notifier (the party applying for the export permit) or the producer (the party where the waste originated or the physical holder of the waste). As the notifier or producer, you bear the final responsibility for the waste in the Netherlands, which entails the following obligations:

Ensuring that the waste is treated abroad in an appropriate and high-quality manner, in accordance with the Dutch national waste management plan.

Reporting the quantities of electrical waste you export annually to the National (W)EEE Register.

If you also report monthly to the OPEN Foundation, we can assist you with this process and provide an administrative fee of €5 per ton. Your cooperation helps us gain earlier insight into the quantities being processed abroad.

We are here to assist you in the collection of discarded electrical appliances, and we have a service called Wecycle designed for businesses. In some instances, we may even provide this collection service for free. For the best approach, we recommend reaching out to our Operations department at tel. 079-760-0600. You can also visit www.wecyclevoorbedrijven.nl for more information.

To responsibly dispose of a professional electrical appliance, you can consider taking it to metal companies. In some cases, you may receive a market-based price for it. Visit the Wecycle collection points for companies at wecyclevoorbedrijven.nl to find more information. If you choose to go this route, you will receive the payment from the metal company you arrange this with. Always check the collection point’s website for details regarding opening hours and additional information before dropping off your appliance.

If you prefer to have us collect your electrical waste free of charge (without compensation), simply click on ‘Register’ on this website.

In legislation, our price list and in the reporting screen, you will notice that there is a distinction between large and small electrical appliances. The following applies here:
The classification is determined by considering the outside dimensions, i.e. the length, width or height of the product.

Large equipment is > 50 cm.
If all sizes are less than or equal to 50 cm, this comes under the category of Small appliances.

This classification does not apply to luminaires. Light fittings are distinguished on the basis of weight (> 750 grams or ≤ 750 grams). Both classifications can be found in the 2021 product and price list.
When determining the size of your device, do not include the length of the cable. If your company sells loose cables (with or without a plug), you must measure the size of the rolled-up cable. For further explanation see the document ‘Determining device dimensions’.

You can report this party to us by either emailing or calling:

• Phone: 079-760-0630
• E-mail: producenten@stichting-open.org

If you prefer to remain anonymous. Then make a report through Reporting Point Freeriders Anoniem meldpunt freeriders (office.com)

How to perform producer responsibility in the distribution of electrical and/or electronic equipment of a foreign manufacturer.

Manufacturers and/or importers (the Producers) of electrical and electronic equipment (the Equipment) have producer responsibility for the Equipment they place on the Dutch market. This responsibility applies to the Equipment covered by the scope of the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulation (WEEE Regulation).

A Producer performs producer responsibility by joining the OPEN Foundation. Pursuant to the WEEE Regulation, the Producer is the party who puts equipment on the Dutch market for the first time.

In the Netherlands, this producer responsibility also applies to importers who purchase equipment from a foreign manufacturer and then distribute this equipment for use on the Dutch market. The foreign manufacturer does not have the option of adopting manufacturer’s responsibility for its equipment from the distributor. This is evident from an extensive statement of considerations on this subject from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (the Foreign Manufacturer Considerations).

The ‘Foreign Manufacturer Considerations’ is at odds with how many European Member States deal with the compulsory declaration of equipment by foreign producers and distributors. In various Member States, foreign producers can declare the equipment supplied to distributors, and consequently relieve the distributors. In the Netherlands, before the universally binding declaration of the waste-management fee agreement of the OPEN Foundation (AVV EEA) came into effect, this was also (largely unconsciously) common practice with various producer collectives.
It would be unmanageable for the foreign producers who used to declare equipment in the Netherlands in this way, if they had to revise and change their administration from 1 March 2021.

With respect to this, the OPEN Foundation has decided, based on its central directive role, to continue the current practice in this transition year in which the performance of producer responsibility has changed drastically for Producers.
This means that foreign producers can make a declaration for 2021 with regard to their distributors. In order to avoid duplications, the OPEN Foundation asks foreign producers for additional information on their distributors. Foreign producers must moreover provide their distributors with accurate information.

The OPEN Foundation has asked the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to also apply the current practice in 2022. The OPEN Foundation aims to link up with European practice and to change the ‘Foreign Manufacturer Considerations’ to be in line with common practice. A change to the ‘Foreign Manufacturer Considerations’ moreover contributes to further harmonisation of producer responsibility within Europe. This will make it easier for producers, who are engaged in the markets of various Member States, to perform their producer responsibility.

Producers, importers or distributors can register here. If you wish to register as a foreign producer and submit a declaration on behalf of a distributor, please contact the distributor first in order to avoid duplicate registrations as much as possible.

If you have questions about the producer responsibility distributor please contact us.

Yes, it is possible to apply for a waiver from Stichting OPEN GTC if a company believes it can effectively manage the collection and recycling of its products independently. In such cases, the company can submit a request for exemption from the General Administrative Order (AVV) to the Minister. The request should be well-reasoned and substantiated. You can find more information about this procedure here.

Yes, you are receiving mail from Afvalbeheerstructuur AEEA B.V. (AEEA B.V.), which is a 100% subsidiary of Stichting OPEN. AEEA B.V. is responsible for managing waste management structure contracting and invoicing on behalf of Stichting OPEN.

The WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) mark, represented by a crossed-out wheelie bin, serves to indicate that the product should not be disposed of as unsorted waste but collected separately for recovery and recycling. The WEEE mark must be affixed to all electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market in the EU, along with your identification mark, such as a brand name or trademark. If the product was introduced to the market after August 13, 2015, you have the option to include a bar under the crossed-out wheelie bin or indicate the date when the product was placed on the market.

These markings must be printed on the product itself, ensuring they are visible, legible, and indelible. If applying the marking directly to the product is not feasible (e.g., due to the product’s size or potential operational impact), it may be affixed to the packaging, the instructions for use, or the guarantee certificate instead of the product itself