Two new members joined the WEEE Forum in the past months, bringing its membership to 52 Producer Responsibility Organisations spread across six continents and expanding its knowledge base with local actors from France (Soren) and Canada (MARR).

As the Commission’s REPowerEU plan aims to boost the domestic manufacturing capacity of over 320 GW of newly installed solar photovoltaic by 2025, and almost 600 GW by 2030, supporting the transition and preparing for the first generation of photovoltaic (PV) panels to reach their end of life has become eminent.

Soren, the WEEE Forum newest member acts as the government-approved eco-organisation for the collection and processing of used photovoltaic panels in France. Soren acts as an operational PRO, that collects, and redistributes photovoltaic panels to corresponding treatment centres across the country. With more than 22,000 tonnes of PV panels collected between 2015 and 2022, Soren plays an important role in ensuring a secure and sustainable supply chain of critical raw materials while promoting the proper treatment of photovoltaic panels.

On the other side of the globe, in Canada, the e-waste issue is of no less importance: the e-waste generated between 2001 and 2020 weights as much as 110 CN towers, the symbol of Toronto, and is expected to significantly increase according to recent data: the e-waste generation per capita is estimated to reach 31.5 kg by 2030!

MARR, The Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable is a not-for-profit stewardship agency created to implement and operate a stewardship plan for end-of-life major household appliances in the province of British Columbia on behalf of the major appliances’ producers. With over 200 collection sites, MARR’s network collected 359,734 units (including most types of large appliances) in 2022 and is actively contributing to creating circular supply chains.

Establishing connections with organisations in various locations enhances the WEEE Forum’s intention to share worldwide best practices in e-waste management. “The WEEE Forum is at the forefront of turning the extended producer responsibility principle into an effective electronic waste management policy approach through our combined knowledge of all management aspects of collection, logistics, de-pollution, processing, preparing for reuse and reporting of e-waste” says Pascal Leroy, WEEE Forum’s Director General. “We are thrilled to welcome new members with such a distinct knowledge and experience to reinforce the expertise of our membership.”

The WEEE Forum is looking forward to further spread its expertise and collaborate with actors around the globe.