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Stichting OPEN contributes to raw material security with record collection of electronic waste
In today’s unstable world, the availability of critical raw materials is becoming increasingly uncertain, while demand continues to grow. This makes the work of Stichting OPEN more relevant than ever. What started as a waste collection system is increasingly evolving into an infrastructure for circularity through resource conservation, preparation for reuse, and high-quality recycling. This is evident from Stichting OPEN’s 2025 annual report, which marks the fifth consecutive year of increased collection of discarded electrical appliances, lamps, and batteries.
In 2025, Stichting OPEN once again collected more discarded appliances, lamps, and batteries than the year before: a total of 245,418,000 kilograms, an increase of 3% compared to 2024. This volume equals 25,000 fully loaded Wecycle trucks and represents the fifth consecutive annual collection record. With more than 30,000 Wecycle collection points, over 20 sorting locations, and a nationwide network of municipalities, retailers, second-hand organizations, transporters, sorters, refurbishers, and recyclers, the Netherlands has one of the world’s best-organized collection and processing systems. This system forms the foundation for the safe collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling of discarded appliances, lamps, and batteries.
Reuse first, then high-quality recycling
Reuse of discarded appliances is now structurally embedded in the Dutch system: suitable appliances or components entering the waste phase are assessed, repaired, and redeployed. Thanks to this approach, nearly 1.8 million kilograms of discarded appliances were given a second life through reuse in 2025. If reuse is not an option, high-quality recycling follows. This approach reduces the demand for virgin raw materials and helps Stichting OPEN contribute to the European objective of sourcing at least 25% of strategic raw materials from recycling by 2030.
Enormous potential of the Dutch ‘Urban Mine’
The potential of strategic and critical raw materials from recycling is enormous. Stichting OPEN’s recently published Urban Mine Analysis shows that Dutch households and businesses contain more than 7 billion kilograms of raw materials in electrical appliances, including 764 million kilograms of strategic and critical raw materials (Critical Raw Materials – CRMs). These include materials such as copper, aluminium, neodymium, and cobalt — all essential for the energy transition and digitalization. At the same time, recovering many of these materials remains technically and economically complex, as they are often incorporated into products in very small quantities. Stichting OPEN therefore advocates targeted investments in innovation and new processing methods, as well as closer cooperation between government, industry, and knowledge institutions in this field.
Jan Vlak: ‘Our work is more relevant than ever’
Jan Vlak (Managing Director of Stichting OPEN): “What began as a legal obligation to collect and recycle discarded appliances, lamps, and batteries has evolved into something much bigger: raw materials, supply security, and strategic independence. In these geopolitically turbulent times, our work is therefore more relevant than ever. By prioritizing preparation for reuse first and high-quality recycling second, we maximize the potential of the ‘urban mine’ and work together with all our chain partners toward a circular future.”
Steven van Eijck: ‘Proud, but challenges remain’
Steven van Eijck (Chairman of Stichting OPEN): “We can be proud of these figures. At the same time, challenges remain. Significant quantities of appliances, lamps, and batteries still end up in residual waste or are processed as scrap metal. Additional steps are therefore needed in collection, legislation, and enforcement. One example is the legal obligation to hand over discarded electronics to specialized processors. This measure has still not come into force, even though it could have enabled the collection of an additional 35 million kilograms of discarded appliances. That is a missed opportunity.”
Columns by independent experts
For this annual report, Stichting OPEN invited three independent experts to share their perspectives on the importance of self-sufficiency in critical raw materials. Allard Castelein, Special Representative for Raw Materials Strategy, reflects on the geopolitical importance of critical raw materials. Barbara Baarsma, Chief Economist at PwC and Professor of Applied Economics at the University of Amsterdam, discusses the economic value of circularity and resource conservation. Ruth Mugge, Professor of Design for Sustainable Consumer Behaviour at TU Delft, explains how product design and consumer behaviour contribute to repair, longer product lifespans, and reuse. Their columns can be found in the annual report.