Hector Timmers

According to Hector Timmers, the responsibility of producers lies at the intersection of society and the market. Here, the concept of 'extended producer responsibilty' comes into play: the party that brings a product onto the market is responsible for recycling it, even if the waste material has a negative residual value.

Split
Timmers: ‘In a situation where these waste materials generate a positive residual value, as is the case with for example car starter batteries, a split arises: although the producer is responsible for collecting and processing these waste materials, collection and processing has become a market-driven activity where the involvement of the producer will lead to market disruptions – disruptions that are explicitly forbidden under the terms of the Management of Batteries and Accumulators Decree.’

Combine and conquer
ARN sees this split as a challenge, namely to develop recycling strategies that combine the responsibility of the producers with the efforts of the free market system, and thus create a waste recycling sector that functions even better.

Like to know more? Then get in touch with Hector Timmers.