More than 263,000 kilograms of e-waste were collected in 2022 with the help of red-white containers, which are distributed in selected towns and villages in Slovakia.

At the end of 2022, there were 323 red – white containers for the collection of small e-waste and waste batteries on the territory of Slovakia. This number of containers covered 1 097 700 inhabitants, which represents 20.14% of the total population of Slovakia.

The red – white containers are special bins for the collection of e-waste, which allow and especially facilitate people to take old, non-functioning small electrical appliances and waste batteries for recycling, such as hairdryers, irons or toasters.

“Through our red – white containers we facilitate collection and at the same time raise awareness of the issue of sorting e-waste, which is also part of our lives. Citizens sort e-waste especially if the collection options are simplified for them”, said Ronald Blaho, Executive Director of ASEKOL SK, in relation to the red – white containers project.

In 2022, thanks to the red – white containers, 263,013 kg of e-waste and waste batteries were collected, which is an average of 0.24 kg per inhabitant. Banská Bystrica was the first city to collect 30,624 kg of e-waste and the only city to collect more e-waste than in 2021, with 5,530 kg more than in 2021. Banská Bystrica was followed by the city of Trenčín, which collected 13 862 kg of e-waste, followed by the city of Zvolen, which collected 12 390 kg of e-waste.

The 263 tonnes of e-waste represents around 223 tonnes of raw materials that are recycled back into circulation and do not need to be mined in nature. In addition, by recycling this amount of e-waste, we will save more than 45 000 litres of oil and more than 24 million litres of water. This amount of water would fill almost 10 swimming pools.

Red-white containers will be added in 2023

Also in 2023, OZV ASEKOL SK placed new red – white containers. To date, there are a total of 330 functional red – white containers in Slovakia, which can be used by residents for the collection of small e-waste.

Among the best collecting towns and municipalities for the first half of 2023 is Banská Bystrica with the collected amount of 15 659 kg of e-waste, the second place is Trenčín with the amount of 7 976 kg and the third place is Považská Bystrica with the collected amount of 6 852 kg of e-waste.

In the first half of the year, 834 collections from red – white containers were made and 137,186 kg of e-waste were collected.

The red – white containers are used for the collection of small e-waste that fits easily into the drop-in hole. From time to time, in addition to e-waste, the containers also end up with keys or active mobile phones from citizens who accidentally throw them into the container. If such an inconvenience happens, it is likely that both the discarded electrical equipment and the keys will be damaged, especially when the container is emptied. Care should therefore be taken when using containers.

E-waste and waste batteries should not end up in landfills, which is why we are constantly trying to expand the network of collection points in Slovakia with new red – white containers.