New campaign: Separate it!

During Safety Awareness Week (5 to 9 June), the media campaign Doe maar apart  (‘Separate it!’) will be launched across the Netherlands. The campaign is an initiative by Stichting OPEN, BRBS Recycling, the NVRD, the NRF, Stichting Stibat Services, the TLN and Vereniging Afvalbedrijven (the Association of Waste Companies). The campaign intends to encourage recycling and prevent battery fires. 

Over the past three years, batteries have been among the top 3 causes of fires at waste collection and processing plants. ‘Loose batteries and devices including batteries scattered among residual waste, industrial waste, construction waste, demolition waste and metal waste pose problems for collection and processing. They often lead to safety risks, such as waste fires. What’s more, if batteries and electrical devices end up among residual waste, then a lot of valuable raw materials are lost’, says Steven van Eijck, chair of Stichting OPEN. ‘We do not want that to happen, which leads us to this separation campaign.’

Hand in separately

The campaign Doe maar apart (‘Separate it!’) makes use of radio and social media. The emphasis lies on handing in electrical devices, loose batteries and power packs separately. ‘A mobile phone can be recycled by up to 93%. So, hand it in instead of throwing it away. This is safer and yields usable metals for a circular economy.’ The campaign runs from 5 to 25 June, with extra attention paid to young adults.

Vapes comprise 84% of the risks

Small electrical waste includes products like smartphones, shavers, power tools, e-cigarettes (vapes), electrical toys, loose lithium batteries and power banks (such as bike batteries). Battery fires can erupt during the collection, transport and processing of various types of devices and batteries. ‘The use of vapes among young people is especially concerning’, says Van Eijck. ‘These e-cigarettes represent at least 84% of all risky devices among residual waste, while many power banks for drills and bikes can also be found.’

Corporate Battery Storage Box

The campaign directs consumers and businesses to the collection points in shops and recycling centres. Stichting Stibat Services has also developed a Corporate Battery Storage Box specially for companies and institutions. Around 300 batteries fit in the box. You can request a free Corporate Battery Storage Box by using the discount code DOEMAARAPART via shop.stibat.nl. On the campaign website doemaarapart.nl, a communications tool-kit is offered, comprising a logo, poster, video and advert for local newspapers.