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2021 Annual Report

Glossary

COLLECTION: This is the first step in processing WEEE. This consists in collecting WEEE from residents-consumers, sorting it into 5 different streams and making it available to ecosystem and its service providers at the different collection points (stores, waste collection sites, or Emmaus centres, etc.). This task is carried out jointly by the different collection partners (retailers, local authorities, social economy, etc.).

 

DEPOLLUTION: Term used for the process of removing or isolating components, substances, or any chemical agents (or the constituents of which) may present an immediate or delayed risk for the environment.

 

LOGISTICS: All operations regarding the collection, grouping and transportation of waste.

 

OCAD3E: Coordinating organisation approved in France for the treatment of WEEE. An organisation common to the 2 WEEE take-back scheme operators in charge of agreements with local authorities, payment of financial support and coherence within the industry.

 

RECOVERY: Any operation where the main result is that waste substitutes other substances, materials or products which would have been used for a particular need or that the waste is prepared to be used for this purpose, including by waste producers.

 

RECYCLING: Consists in treating waste to in order to reuse it in the manufacture of new products or materials enabling materials that comprise the product to be re-introduced into the production cycle.

 

REDEPLOYMENT: A renovation operation performed on appliances given directly by their owner to an organisation that redeploys these or via specific collection operations organised by ecosystem or via take-back during deliveries. This appliance is in working order or may be restored by the organisations often working in the social and solidarity economy. It is then sold at a reduced price to a new owner who will use it for the same purpose for which it was initially designed. The service life of the appliance is also prolonged and waste is avoided.

 

REGULATED SUBSTANCES: Substances which are listed in the Order of 23 November 2005 relating to Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment treatment methods. Waste having any of the following properties is considered as hazardous: explosive, oxidising, highly inflammable, irritant, harmful, toxic, carcinogenic, corrosive, infectious, toxic for reproduction, mutagenic, ecotoxic.

 

REPAIR: For the person owning the deteriorated appliance, this consists in restoring the appliance to working order or to have this performed by a professional. Once repaired, the appliance is returned to the owner who can use it again. The action of repairing also prolongs the service life of the appliance and avoids waste.

 

REUSE: At ecosystem, we talk about reusing materials that make up appliances that we collect and that are not redeployed. These materials are made into new primary raw materials in accordance with the stringent quality standard requirements for virgin material (usually used by producers for manufacturing new products), within a circular economy rationale. This prevents new virgin material from being extracted in accordance with our aim to protect natural resources.
 

STREAM: Designates one of the 5 categories composing household WEEE:

  • LHA cold: Large cooling appliances (refrigerators, freezers, air-conditioning …)
  • LHA excl. cold: Large household appliances excluding cooling appliances (dishwasher, washing machine, cookers, etc.).
  • Screens: televisions or monitors
  • SHA: Small Household Appliances (all other appliances that are not covered above)
  • Lamps: all sorts of bulbs (filaments, halogens, fluorescent, LED)

 

SOURCE: The amount of waste produced during a given period in a country and grouped together in a specific facility for collection and future treatment.

 

SECONDARY RAW MATERIAL: Material resulting from waste recycling which may be partially or totally used as a substitute to primary raw material.

 

TREATMENT: All the necessary steps regarding recycling and depollution (dismantling, removal of hazardous components, shredding, material disassembly, CFC extraction,...)