Experiences with the take-back of white and brown goods in the Netherlands

A take-back and recycling system of white and brown goods is in operation in the Netherlands as of 01/01/99. It is a collective system financed by a visible fee. The collection rates of the system are according to expectations, the recycling rates achieved are higher than anticipated and the costs are much lower than budgeted. The good performance is chiefly due to its professional management, its economy of scale and the leverage towards recyclers. The results compare favourably with the take-back and recycling system for IT goods which is based on individual responsibility. The system can be developed further by applying quotes for environmentally weighted recyclability, ecoefficiency concepts and introducing rewards for good ecodesign while keeping the economy of scale.