What Stichting OPEN does

Stichting OPEN (legal name: Stichting Organisatie Producentenverantwoordelijkheid E-waste Nederland) is a Dutch non-profit foundation headquartered in Zoetermeer that operates as the collectively mandated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) organization for electrical and electronic equipment, lamps, batteries, and solar panels placed on the Dutch market. Established in 2001 (with statutory EPR authority effective from March 2021), the foundation is governed under a government-approved AVV (Algemeen Verbindend Verklaring) that makes participation compulsory for all producers and importers and was renewed in 2026 for a further five-year term. The organization registers 6,500+ producers and importers, coordinates logistics with municipalities and metal recyclers, and reports transparently to the Dutch government on behalf of the chain.

The foundation's portfolio spans consumer-facing brands (Wecycle for collection-point finding and awareness campaigns), business services (Wecycle voor Bedrijven for free commercial collection), a knowledge platform for circular-economy research (Circulaire Kennis / circulairekennis.nl), and an online compliance portal (MyOPEN 2.0) for producer registration, annual reporting, and declaration management. Distribution is anchored in approximately 30,000 Wecycle collection points across the Netherlands, including retailers and municipal environmental streets. Technical capability focuses on regulatory tracking, CENELEC certification guidance, raw-material flow analysis, and integration with adjacent systems (Batbase, Pronexa for cross-border European compliance).

The revenue model is fee-based: producers and importers pay an annual waste management contribution (afvalbeheerbijdrage) calibrated by product category and quantity placed on market. The fee funds collection, sorting, processing, and recycling, with export-refund mechanisms for products exported unused. GTM combines sales-led account management (six dedicated account managers across producer, municipal, retail, recycler, ICT/installation, and battery segments) with event-driven consumer awareness (Nationale Wecycleweek, national TV and online campaigns). Notable customers/collaborators include Accell Group (battery circularity), ATAG (kitchen appliance take-back), Canon Benelux, and JAROCELLS, alongside partnerships with Coolrec (WEEE recycling), Refurb Battery (energy storage), Holland Solar, and Stichting ZRN. Leadership comprises Managing Director Jan Vlak, Chairman Steven van Eijck (former Dutch State Secretary), and an Advisory Board chaired by former Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.

Name

Stichting OPEN

Legal name

Stichting Organisatie Producentenverantwoordelijkheid E-waste Nederland

Website

https://stichting-open.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Stichting OPEN is the Dutch mandated collective producer responsibility foundation that registers producers and importers of electronics, lamps, batteries, and solar panels, coordinates nationwide collection and recycling through its Wecycle network of 30,000 points, and funds the system via regulated waste management fees under a government-approved AVV.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

E-Waste Recycling & Producer Responsibility Compliance

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Waste Collection (56211)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Supply Chain & Product Environmental Compliance (RoHS, WEEE, Packaging EPR, Eco-Design/Labeling Regulations) (EUAHABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Certified Compliance & Reporting Services (R2/e-Stewards, Audit, ESG) (BPALAIAL), Universal Waste Management (Batteries, Lamps, Mercury-Containing) (BPALAHAL), E-Waste & IT Asset Disposition (On-site Collection & Secure Handling) (BPABALAF), Circular Economy & Waste/Materials Reporting (Zero waste, packaging) (EUAHAJAL)

Keywords

• E-waste recycling
• Producer responsibility
• WEEE compliance
• Battery collection
• Circular electronics

Headquarters

HQ city

Zoetermeer

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Waste Management Contribution (Afvalbeheerbijdrage): Producers and importers of electrical appliances, lamps, batteries, and solar panels pay a waste management contribution fee to fund the collection and recycling system. This is a mandatory fee based on the quantity and type of products placed on the Dutch market, regulated through the AVV (Algemeen Verbindend Verklaring) agreement that makes participation compulsory for all producers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stichting OPEN is the designated non-profit collective compliance organization in the Netherlands that manages the collection, sorting, and recycling of discarded electrical appliances, lamps, batteries (including e-bike batteries), and solar panels on behalf of all producers and importers. Operating under a government-approved AVV (Universally Binding Declaration), the organization charges a mandatory waste management contribution (afvalbeheerbijdrage) based on the quantity and type of products placed on the Dutch market, and coordinates a nationwide network of 30,000+ collection points including retail locations, municipal recycling centers, and dedicated business drop-off sites.

Product overview

Stichting OPEN is a non-profit organization that organizes and coordinates the collection and recycling of discarded electrical appliances, lamps, batteries (including e-bike batteries), and solar panels in the Netherlands under statutory producer responsibility. The organization operates a multi-brand portfolio: Wecycle is the consumer-facing brand for collection point locations and awareness; Wecycle voor Bedrijven serves business customers with free collection services; Circulaire Kennis is a knowledge platform providing circular economy research and guidance; and MyOPEN 2.0 is the online portal for producer registration, reporting, and member management. Batbase (operated by Stibat) is accessible through the portal for battery compliance. The organization also runs the annual Nationale Wecycleweek campaign and maintains a network of approximately 30,000 Wecycle collection points across the Netherlands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wecycle Consumer-facing brand and service that stimulates consumers and businesses to safely hand in discarded appliances, lamps, and batteries for reuse or recycling. Visible in education, awareness campaigns, and at 30,000+ collection points across the Netherlands.
• Wecycle voor Bedrijven Platform for companies with discarded appliances, lamps, batteries, and solar panels to arrange free collection or drop-off at business collection points across the Netherlands.
• Circulaire Kennis Knowledge platform for the circular economy of discarded appliances, lamps, and batteries, offering research, reports, and roadmaps including solar panel circularity guidance for producers, policymakers, and researchers.
• MyOPEN 2.0 Online portal for producers and importers to register, submit reports, manage declarations, and access producer services for EPR compliance with electrical appliances, lamps, batteries, and solar panels.
• Batbase Battery tracking and reporting system accessible through Stichting OPEN's portal for battery producer reporting and compliance with battery stewardship regulations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 billion kg of electrical waste collected in 25 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PronexacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture of various European collectives including Stichting OPEN, based in Germany. Serves as one-stop shop for businesses operating in multiple European countries to manage producer responsibility centrally through an online portal.
• Coolrec (subsidiary of Renewi)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean market leader in WEEE recycling. Invested €0.5 million in electrostatic separator to generate high-quality secondary raw materials. Processes approximately 6,000 tonnes of mixed WEEE annually, producing ABS and HIPS plastic flakes with 98% purity.
• Refurb Battery OperationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch scale-up that 'harvests' lithium cells from discarded bicycle batteries and uses them in circular energy storage systems. Collaboration with Accell Group and Stichting OPEN for extended battery lifecycle.
• Holland SolarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association representing solar panel sector. Collaborates on waste management contribution frameworks for solar panels and tender documents for raw material recovery.
• Stichting ZRNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on solar panel recycling frameworks and circular economy initiatives.
• Witteveen+BosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting partner for developing tender documents for raw material recovery from solar panels.
• WEEE ForumcoreOthersInternational organization for e-waste management; Stichting OPEN is affiliated.
• ANStECcoreOthersAssociation of national systems for producer responsibility; Stichting OPEN is member.
• LightReccoreOthersIndustry association for lighting; Stichting OPEN is affiliated.
• SVEGcoreOthersSector association for professional electrical tools; Stichting OPEN is affiliated.
• NLdigitalcoreOthersDigital sector industry association; Stichting OPEN is affiliated.
• SMRcoreOthersSector association; Stichting OPEN is affiliated.
• fiarcoreOthersIndustry association; Stichting OPEN is affiliated.
• WeeelabexcoreOthersEuropean certification scheme for e-waste treatment; Stichting OPEN is affiliated.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• WEEE Forum: International association of 47 producer responsibility organizations for WEEE management worldwide. Stichting OPEN is an active member; the forum represents the collective industry at EU policy level, providing peer organizations for Stichting OPEN's mandate.
• ERP (European Recycling Platform): Pan-European WEEE compliance scheme operating across multiple countries with services for producers. Functions as a broader cross-border alternative to single-country PROs like Stichting OPEN, with the same funding model of producer fees funding collection and recycling.
• Coolrec (Renewi): European WEEE recycling operator and a Renewi subsidiary. Processes approximately 6,000 tonnes of mixed WEEE annually and is a downstream partner of Stichting OPEN for actual material recovery, with overlap in the WEEE compliance chain.

Direct peers

• Corepile: Swedish producer responsibility organization for portable batteries, industrial batteries, and accumulators. Operates an equivalent collective compliance and collection system with producer registration and reporting, comparable in function and scale to Stichting OPEN's battery arm.
• RENE AG: German-led pan-European compliance service provider for WEEE, batteries, and packaging. Operates a centralized portal approach for producers across multiple markets, directly comparable to the single-portal compliance model Stichting OPEN uses via MyOPEN and Pronexa.
• ecopro: Austrian producer responsibility organization for electrical equipment and batteries. Operates the same collective compliance model as Stichting OPEN under Austrian EAG/ABG regulations and is a co-member of the Pronexa JV.
• Stichting Recupel: Belgian producer responsibility organization for WEEE, batteries, and lamps/lighting. Operates the same AVV-equivalent collective model as Stichting OPEN, manages producer registration and reporting in Belgium, and is a partner in the Pronexa European compliance platform.
• Stichting Stibat: Dutch producer responsibility organization specifically for batteries (portable, automotive, e-bike). Stibat operates Batbase, the battery reporting system that is integrated with Stichting OPEN's MyOPEN portal, and has a co-regulatory role in the Dutch EPR system.
• Stiftung EAR: German foundation responsible for registering and oversight of WEEE, batteries, and electrical equipment compliance schemes under German/EU law. Functions as a quasi-regulatory body enforcing the ElektroG framework, comparable to Stichting OPEN's AVV mandate.

Regional players

• El-Kretsen: Swedish producer responsibility organization for electronics. Operates a similar collective compliance system in Sweden, serving as a regional peer for Stichting OPEN in the Nordics with comparable function but different national scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/openstichting
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stichtingopen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stichting OPEN