New Producer Responsibility Organisation to help companies manage their producer responsibility for batteries
Elretur is being split into two. Producer responsibility for batteries will now be managed by its sister organisation Batteriretur.
(Photo: Elretur)
The establishment of the new player in the waste sector follows the EU’s adoption in summer 2023 of a new Battery Regulation, which introduces, among other things, a separate extended producer responsibility for batteries designed to make the battery life cycle more circular.
“Batteries play a major role in the transition to more climate-friendly forms of energy, and with the new regulation there is increased focus on the opportunities to reuse and recycle the valuable materials and resources that batteries consist of. Since 2005, Elretur has managed producer responsibility for both electronics and batteries, and with the general development in the battery area, it was a natural next step to split Elretur into two and establish Batteriretur. A Producer Responsibility Organisation dedicated to batteries also meets a request from Elretur’s members,” says Morten Harboe-Jepsen, CEO of Batteriretur.
Christian Nyborg and Lene Hedegaard have been elected Chair and Vice Chair respectively, and together with the rest of the board they will support the development of Batteriretur – and according to the newly elected Chair, there is plenty to do.
“Previously, batteries were primarily something you found in small items such as remote controls, but within just a few years we have seen enormous electrification. Today, for example, we also have batteries in our bikes, scooters, mobile chargers and electric cars,” says Christian Nyborg, and elaborates:
“This is a development we expect to continue. There will be more and larger battery sources. Legislation needs to keep up. The handling of used batteries needs to keep up as well. That is why we have established Batteriretur. Although it is a new Producer Responsibility Organisation, we are building on almost 20 years of experience with managing producer responsibility, and I look forward to helping Batteriretur support the development of good battery management and provide even more specialised and highly professional advice to members,” says Christian Nyborg.
Batteriretur is part of Retur – a family of Producer Responsibility Organisations that currently manages producer responsibility for companies in four areas: batteries, electronics, packaging and, in the future, textiles.
The purpose of Retur is to offer Danish companies a combined solution for producer responsibility – a one-stop shop – where a shared competence centre provides economies of scale, an international network and knowledge sharing, and where innovation makes it possible for companies to have their producer responsibility managed in one and the same place, regardless of whether they are affected by one or several producer responsibility obligations.
“We see a clear trend towards increased producer responsibility for waste management. That is why it is natural to think about and operate producer responsibility within a shared framework such as Retur rather than in isolated organisations for each individual area or industry. By bringing our core competencies together in Retur and specialising the effort across, for now, four Producer Responsibility Organisations, we achieve economies of scale and cost efficiency, strengthen the development of innovative solutions, create opportunities for take-back schemes and ensure advice to our member companies at a high professional level,” says Morten Harboe-Jepsen, CEO of Batteriretur and Retur.
Elretur is Denmark’s largest Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), with close to 20 years of experience in managing producer responsibility.
Elretur manages producer responsibility for electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) on behalf of more than 960 companies across a wide range of industries, including producers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment and batteries in Denmark.
Elretur ensures responsible and cost-effective collection and management of the electronic waste delivered to recycling centres across the country. It does so to such an extent that Elretur recycles 84% of the products collected. This is above the EU average of 80%. The goal now is to take the next step and increase the reuse of products.
Elretur is part of Retur – a family currently consisting of four non-profit Producer Responsibility Organisations: Elretur, Batteriretur, Emballageretur and Tekstilretur, which manage producer responsibility for electronics, batteries, packaging and textile products for companies in Denmark.
Together, we work to increase reuse and recycling, so that as many valuable resources as possible are lifted out of the waste stream and returned to the loop – Retur to the future.
See more at www.elretur.dk and www.retur.dk.
Batteriretur is a Producer Responsibility Organisation that helps companies manage their producer responsibility for batteries. Batteriretur manages batteries from households and cars. Batteriretur grew out of Elretur, Denmark’s largest Producer Responsibility Organisation, which has managed producer responsibility for electronics and batteries since 2005.
Retur is a family of Producer Responsibility Organisations – Batteriretur, Elretur, Emballageretur and Tekstilretur. Retur grew out of Elretur, which was established in 2005 and is Denmark’s largest Producer Responsibility Organisation.
Retur is a one-stop shop for Danish companies that need a responsible and experienced partner to manage their producer responsibility or take-back scheme. Retur is built on almost 20 years of experience operating and developing Producer Responsibility Organisations based on member democracy, tried-and-tested systems, well-proven workflows, a high level of professional expertise, representation towards politicians and authorities, access to an international network and, not least, a community with other member companies.
As a member of a Producer Responsibility Organisation in the Retur family, companies benefit from the shared competence centre that serves all the Producer Responsibility Organisations in Retur, while also having access to specialised employees in the individual organisations’ own teams.
Read more at www.retur.dk.
Communications Manager Camilla Falkenberg
Mobile: +45 4314 0894
Email: cf@elretur.dk