Circularity programme reduces WEEE to landfill by 93%

The circularity programme was created to extend the life of used parts and minimise electronic waste by allowing customers to bring in faulty electronic items for processing rather than sending them to landfill.  

The initiative focuses on the repair, reuse and recycling of faulty parts to extend their life and help reduce waste and conserve resources that would otherwise be used to manufacture new parts. 

Of the parts not repaired and put back into operation, ABB said that “correct end-of-life treatment” ensured 86.5% of the material was recycled. 

In some cases, parts are disassembled, cleaned, inspected, reconditioned and reassembled to create remanufactured parts – an approach particularly valuable in ensuring availability of materials and components.  

Its data has now shown that the amount of electronic waste sent to landfill reduced from 214.5 kg in 2020 to 14.2 kg by the end of 2023 – representing the 93% reduction.  

Marie-Hélène Westholm-Knebel, global head of sustainability at ABB Energy Industries, said: “End-to-end traceability and extending the lifecycle of our products is crucial, especially in the face of a rising global demand for critical materials. Without the transformation of production and consumption models to support the circular economy, we cannot meaningfully preserve natural resources and cut emissions. 

“Our collaborations with recycling partners ensure that sustainability standards are upheld from the very beginning to the final stage of a product’s lifecycle.” 

The programme is in collaboration with Stena Recycling in Europe and Ohio Drop Off in the US who provide certified reports that assess the material properties of each part across various categories.  

ABB also offers financial incentives for customers to exchange faulty parts for remanufactured or refurbished ones.  

“The success of this programme has already been proven at industrial plants around the world where our customers have service agreements that enable them to play an active role in striving for a circular economy,” said Paul Sundt, service segment manager at ABB Energy Industries. “We hope to see this continue as more customers realise the value, and improved sustainability, that can be generated across their supply chain.”