Analysing What We Collect

To further develop the recycling process, evaluation and research are essential. That’s why El-Kretsen has its own analysis facility.

El-Kretsen’s analysis facility in Arboga receives around 1.5 percent of all collected electronics, equivalent to roughly 1,500 tonnes per year. This material provides the basis for ongoing analysis. In studies of specific products or larger product groups, the waste is examined for age, material composition, environmental labelling, and brand. The cages sent to the analysis facility are selected at random, but the sample size must always be large enough to give statistically reliable data on how many computers, remote controls, televisions, and other products are collected annually.

Why El-Kretsen Has an Analysis Facility

The purpose of the Arboga facility is to allow El-Kretsen to analyse, in-house, the content of the collected electrical equipment. By mapping its composition – including the proportion of hazardous waste – we gain valuable knowledge about what is on the market and how it changes over time. This is an important part of El-Kretsen’s long-term efforts to achieve our goal: that 100 percent of materials are handled in the most environmentally smart and resource-efficient way possible.

The results from Arboga form the basis for much of the information El-Kretsen shares, both with producers and decision-makers, about how electronics recycling works in Sweden. Insights from the analysis facility are also a key piece of our climate work. Through proactive analysis, El-Kretsen takes environmental responsibility seriously while remaining well-prepared for upcoming requirements and changes in legislation.