The OPEN Foundation (Organization for Producer Responsibility for E-waste Netherlands) is responsible for the collection and recycling of discarded electrical equipment and used batteries in the Netherlands. The organization continues the activities previously carried out by Stibat.
As a non-profit organization, Stichting OPEN helps producers and importers comply with legal recycling obligations for batteries and electronic waste. Since 1995, regulations have required batteries to be collected and recycled responsibly. This system is financed through a recycling contribution paid per battery.
Used batteries should never be disposed of with regular household waste because they may contain environmentally harmful substances such as mercury, lead, or cadmium. By collecting batteries separately, valuable raw materials such as nickel, steel, and zinc can be safely recovered and reused in new products.
The collection system includes:
Through large-scale recycling efforts, millions of kilograms of reusable materials have already been recovered in the Netherlands, reducing environmental impact and conserving natural resources.
Read more about battery recycling and the OPEN Foundation here.