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Waste management fee: why and how much

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Appliances, lamps, and batteries must always be collected separately and recycled after disposal. This way, we ensure a safe waste chain, conserve raw materials, reduce CO2 emissions, and work towards a circular economy. The Extended Producer Responsibility Act (EPR) stipulates that manufacturers and importers are responsible for this. Stichting OPEN carries out this task, together with over 30,000 Wecycle collection points for consumers and businesses. Manufacturers and importers of appliances, lamps, batteries, or (bicycle) accumulators pay a waste management fee to Stichting OPEN. This fee is based on annual production and/or import reporting. The waste management fee creates a level playing field, and we jointly pay for the entire collection and recycling system..

Breakdown of the contribution

The waste management fee consists of operational costs and system costs. Operational costs include things like the collection, transport, sorting, and processing of discarded products. System costs cover expenses for organization, communication, research, inspections, and audits.

The tariffs

The tariffs for the waste management fee are determined annually based on the predicted “Put on Market” (POM) and operational costs. These tariffs are fixed.

When do you pay an advance?

If your annual waste management fee exceeds €6,000, we collect an advance payment on a monthly basis. This advance allows us to fund the costs of the collection and recycling system throughout the calendar year. The advance is calculated by multiplying your “Put on Market” data from the previous year by the tariffs for the new year.

When will you receive the advance invoices?

We send out the advance invoices for the upcoming month on the first day of each month. The advances are settled with the next year’s submission. If you report quarterly, the settlement will happen on a quarterly basis.

What do we report to the NWR?

The government has appointed the National (W)EEE Register (NWR) to create and manage a registry. This is done according to the Regulation on Discarded Electrical and Electronic Equipment. Stichting OPEN registers and reports the data of producers and importers of appliances and lamps to the NWR.

WEEE registration number

Some European countries issue a WEEE registration number. However, in the Netherlands, the National (W)EEE Register does not use such a number. To prove that you are compliant with your producer responsibility in the Netherlands, you can refer to the National (W)EEE Register website, where you will find a list of registered producers/importers. Stichting OPEN also provides an overview of registered producers/importers on its website.

What is the origin of the EPR ?

Producers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment took the initiative early on to properly and responsibly organize the collection and recycling of discarded products.

  • 1999 – Introduction of disposal fee: a separate amount shown on the receipt to cover collection and recycling costs.
  • 2011–2013 – Fee integrated into retail price: The fee was no longer shown separately but included in the sales price. Producers also paid for “old” products (historical stock).
  • Since 2020 – One system: waste management contribution: Fees are determined annually by the board of Stichting OPEN, which represents 8 (industry) organizations. Stichting OPEN is a non-profit coordination organization for implementing EPR.

What plans are in place?

Producers and importers pay to (continue to) comply with legal obligations for the collection and recycling of discarded devices, lamps, and batteries. Efficiency is key, but challenges are growing:

  • Increasing ambitions
  • Stricter legislation
  • Greater processing complexity
  • Lower revenues from raw materials
  • More intensive enforcement

These developments demand extra effort. Major challenges lie ahead.

The key goals:

  • Increase collection volumes to meet legal targets. Action Plan 2: More collection means higher costs
  • Start saving for future collection costs:
    Currently, producers pay for current-year costs. The goal is to shift toward saving now for future costs of products placed on the market today.
  • Tackling freeriders remains a top priority:
    A level playing field is essential. In 2026, Stichting OPEN will intensify efforts to identify and involve freeriders using a robust control system.

How is the tariff structured?

The waste management contribution is divided into three cost categories:

  1. Operational costs – for the national collection system

Costs required for the nationwide collection and processing of discarded devices, lamps, and batteries.
Includes:

  • Payments to municipalities
  • Dense (fine-meshed) collection networks
  • Regional Service Centers (RSCs)
  • Transport and processing costs (minus recovered raw material value)
  1. Costs to stimulate extra collection

To reach legal targets, additional actions are required, such as:

  • Incentive fees for extra collection partners
  • Marketing (especially aimed at businesses)
  • Recruiting new collection points

These are volume-driven costs – more activity means higher costs. Revenues from recovered materials (e.g., metals and plastics) affect final processing costs. Extra collection will remain a key focus beyond 2026.

  1. Overhead and other costs

Fixed costs for Stichting OPEN and supporting activities:

  • Staff and administration
  • Audits and controls
  • Tackling freeriders (non-participating companies)
  • Marketing, advocacy, supply chain cooperation, research
  • Representation of producers via industry associations (backend costs)

How is the fee determined for devices and lamps?

The fee is based on the total collection and processing costs, divided across all products placed on the market in a year (Put on Market).
This is called the allocation system. The more products sold, the lower the fee per product.

How is the fee determined for batteries and (e-bike) accumulators?

The fee here is calculated differently: Based on future collection and processing costs of a product placed on the market today. Known as the capital coverage system. Producers pay in advance for the eventual recycling of their product

Is there a capital coverage system for solar panels too?

Yes. A capital coverage system was introduced for solar panels. The outgoing Secretary of State Aartsen announced that the financing of solar panel recycling would be legally anchored, shifting from an allocation system to a capital coverage model. Stichting OPEN anticipated this and implemented it in 2023.

Why the change? Solar panels have a long lifespan (25–30 years). Under the old system, costs were only paid when they occurred. This doesn’t work for long-lifespan products.
Now, at the moment of sale, a waste management contribution is paid and saved in a dedicated provision for future processing.

This ensures: The polluter pays principle is upheld. A sustainable financial basis exists for the future recycling of solar panels, even if the original producer no longer exists.

What is the role of industry associations?

Industry associations play a central role in collaboration with Stichting OPEN:

  • They act as a bridge between individual producers and the collective system
  • Ensure producer interests are represented in policy and decision-making
  • Participate in Stichting OPEN’s board, deciding on strategy, fees, cost allocation, and enforcement
  • Facilitate feedback loops from the market
  • Organize producer input via Advisory Councils

Are you a producer or importer in a specific sector in the Netherlands? Join one or more of these organizations, and consider participating in an Advisory Council.

Examples of associations:

  • FIAR CE
  • ANStEC
  • NLdigital
  • Stichting LightRec
  • Stichting Batterijen
  • SVEG/SMR
  • Stichting ZRN / Holland Solar
  • EPAC

Why organize EPR collectively?

Every producer remains responsible for the products they place on the market.
By working together through Stichting OPEN, we:

  • Share costs
  • Benefit from economies of scale
  • Create a robust, efficient, and realistic system

Is there EPR advocacy?

Yes. Stichting OPEN also:

  • Represents the interests of affiliated producers and importers
  • Regularly engages with government to improve compliance and oversight
  • Advocates for realistic collection targets
  • Supports development of EPR 2.0: more circular, fairer cost distribution
  • Works with authorities like ILT and municipalities to ensure enforcement
  • Helps prevent illegal exports of discarded equipment

This ensures that producer responsibility is implemented efficiently, fairly, and with a future-proof outlook.

How are tariffs set?

A careful process is followed:

  • The board of Stichting OPEN is involved at each step
  • Advisory Councils provide input on plans and the budget
  • The board formally adopts the tariffs, based on a proposal from the management

Timeline for setting 2026 fees:

  • June 2025: First board meeting on the 2026 budget
  • July 2025: Presentation to Advisory Councils
  • August 2025: Strategy meeting with proposed 2026 tariffs and outlook
  • September 2025: Sector-level consultations on tariffs and mid-year forecast
  • October 2025: Final approval of 2026 tariffs and budget
    → After which producers/importers receive the final tariff details