CENELEC-certificering: preparation for re-use

Do you want to use a product that has acquired waste status? Specific rules apply. For processing, recycling, or reusing (parts of) discarded appliances, a CENELEC certification is required. Stichting OPEN organizes the collection and CENELEC-certified processing of discarded appliances and lamps in the Netherlands. However, if you, as a producer or importer, wish to reuse raw materials, components, or products yourself, you must obtain a CENELEC certification. We are happy to assist you with this.

What is a CENELEC certification?

The organization that issues CENELEC certifications is called WEEELABEX (Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment LABel of EXcellence). CENELEC is a set of European quality standards for transporting, collecting, storing, and processing discarded appliances and lamps. To obtain the CENELEC certification, an independent auditor assesses whether a processor complies with these standards. We encourage processors in the Dutch market to achieve this CENELEC certification. This helps us protect the environment, make our industry circular, and maintain transparency in waste streams. We also assist producers and importers who wish to handle reuse themselves and are considering applying for a preparation for re-use CENELEC certificate.

When is certification required?

A CENELEC certification is legally mandatory only for appliances in the waste phase. Whether an appliance has waste status depends on the intention of the owner discarding the appliance. Waste status is fundamentally different from second-hand status: if someone sells an appliance second-hand, it does not have waste status. Appliances in the waste phase are more likely to have defects and must be expertly inspected, dismantled, or processed. The waste status also applies to discarded appliances from which you wish to reuse parts. If you want to extract components from a discarded appliance, this constitutes a “processing activity,” and a CENELEC certification is required.

Support with CENELEC certification

We assist you in obtaining a CENELEC certificate. We offer a free intake meeting, permit check, and quick scan to determine what is needed to achieve certification. Your organization then decides whether to proceed with the certification process. If you do, you hire an independent auditor to conduct an on-site audit. Upon a successful audit, the WEEELABEX organization grants the CENELEC certificate. From that moment, you report annually on various activities to maintain the certificate.

Free advice and financial support

Applying for a CENELEC certificate requires time, money, and energy from organizations. To help, we offer free advice. Additionally, we provide financial support of up to €5,000 for organizations committed to contributing to a circular industry. Organizations may also collaborate with processors or partners who are already CENELEC-certified. We can play a connecting role in such cases.

A location-specific certificate

Anyone wishing to reuse (parts of) discarded electrical appliances must obtain the preparation for re-use CENELEC certificate. This certification is location-specific: if you operate at multiple locations, you must obtain a certificate for each location.

Future-proof reuse with the CENELEC certificate

The CENELEC certificate will become even more critical in the future. The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is preparing new legislation. This legislation will introduce a delivery obligation for appliances with legal waste status. It is essential that these discarded appliances are processed by a CENELEC-certified processor or a qualified refurbisher. Such refurbishers must hold the preparation for re-use CENELEC certificate.