Electronic waste experienced the highest increment compared to other waste types in 2021. However, the amount of e-waste which is never recycled and ends up in dumping grounds or loose in the countryside is also increasing, each time with a higher negative environmental impact and consequences for the planet during the climate crisis. That explains the increasing importance of proper recovery of e-waste.

Thanks to the network of red and white containers designed to collect very small household e-waste, used by residents of selected Slovak towns and municipalities since 2016, the correct e-waste treatment is becoming more and more available and possible. ASEKOL SK expands the waste collection network every year, with 319 special containers used in 2021. The annual capacity of each is up to 1 tonne of very small e-waste. Thanks to its recycling, a significant amount of primary raw materials, especially metals, water, energy and CO2 emitted into the atmosphere, can be saved. 

The e-waste collection results in 2021 were significantly affected by vandalism. For this reason, the company had to put as many as 30 red and white containers out of service for a long period of time. Despite these adverse events, up to 267,625 kilograms of very small household e-waste were collected from the network of containers. This means that every resident with a red and white container in the vicinity handed over 0.31 kilograms of electronic waste.

Banská Bystrica collected the highest volume of electronic waste in 2021: 25,094 kilograms worth. “I am glad the inhabitants of Banská Bystrica responsibly recycle electrical waste. We have defended our first place for three consecutive years. In order to make waste collection even easier and more available to a broader public, we cooperated with ASEKOL SK and expanded the network of red and white containers in our city. I believe that the active approach of residents of Banská Bystrica to waste recycling will prove to be successful in the future,” says the Mayor of Banská Bystrica, Ján Nosko, when asked to evaluate the waste collection results.

The most successful municipality with 5,633 kilograms of collected very small electronic waste was Chorvátsky Grob. Ferdinand Kolčák, responsible for waste management in Chorvátsky Grob, attributes the good results to the efforts of the town’s residents. “Compared to the past, the municipality is significantly more active in waste management, but without active residents, the municipality’s efforts would remain on paper and never come true. ASEKOL SK’s red and white container project has functioned seamlessly from the very beginning. All processes (collection, reporting, communication) are regular, autonomous and smooth. Such moments make our joint efforts joyful and meaningful,” adds Kolčák.

One of the most successful municipalities in 2021 was the town of Pezinok. “The goal of Pezinok is to be an environmentally-friendly town, and we seek to achieve this by increasing the number of recycled waste types,” says Daniela Malíková, the town’s PR manager. 15,221 kilograms of e-waste were collected in Pezinok, which made it the town which collected the highest amount of electronic waste per capita: 0.66 kilograms. According to Malíková, the results should be attributed to the education of children in kindergartens and primary schools, as well as regular discussion about waste recycling with town resources. “We are pleased we are among the best in Slovakia in the field,” she adds.

With 0.88 kilograms per capita, Jablonec became the municipality with the highest amount of collected electronic waste per capita.

ASEKOL SK plans to further expand the network of waste recycling containers. “We see that the interest from municipalities and the results of waste collection confirm that people are also interested in recycling. I think we will soon reach the stage when waste recycling becomes more natural. That is very good news,” says Ronald Blaho, Managing Director of ASEKOL SK.