Switching on environmentalism

EU regulations require Poland to collect around 150,000 tonnes - or four kilograms per citizen - of used electrical appliances annually by 2008. However, Grzegorz Skrzypczak, the president of Elektroeko, a non-profit company which recycles appliances, doubts whether this target will be met.

"We are just at the beginning of building the system," he says, adding that it's not only the system that hinders the realization of EU goals. "Poles' ecological consciousness is still low," he complains. For this reason, his organization stresses educating the public.

Skrzypczak points to the fact that most appliance users do not know that they are required to return their used devices, and that stores, wholesalers and local governments are required to take the appliances brought to them. Throwing electrical appliances away can bring a fine of up to zł.5,000.

"If you go to buy a new fridge, you can leave the old one at the store, and the store is obliged to take it," Skrzypczak says. Then entities responsible for transporting used appliances take them from the stores or local governments to processing companies. These remove dangerous parts from the devices and make them ready for recycling.

Elektroeko was formed in February of this year. Forty percent of its shares are owned by Ceced Polska - the association of white-goods producers operating in Poland. Thirty percent is owned by three companies from the lighting sector - Phillips Lighting, Osram and General Electric. Another 40 percent is in the hands of ZIPSEE - the Association of Importers and Producers of Electrical and Electronic Appliances.

Currently Elektroeko has signed agreements with 162 producers, who pay fees which are then used by Elektroeko to finance the system and for educational purposes.