{"id":5260,"date":"2026-09-04T09:20:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T07:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/it-recycling.nl\/blog\/e-waste-in-the-netherlands-7-key-figures-for-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T14:49:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T12:49:03","slug":"e-waste-in-the-netherlands-7-key-figures-for-2026","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/it-recycling.nl\/en\/blog\/e-waste-in-the-netherlands-7-key-figures-for-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"E-waste in the Netherlands: 7 Key Figures for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

E-waste in the Netherlands is growing faster than the collection chain can handle it.<\/strong> IT Recycling processes end-of-life IT equipment based on two core principles: Data Security and Resource Recovery<\/span><\/strong>. This isn\u2019t just a marketing strategy; it\u2019s a necessity dictated by the numbers. Below are seven figures that show where things will go wrong in 2026 and where organizations can take control.<\/p>\n

Table of Contents<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. 373 million kilograms of e-waste per year<\/li>\n
  2. 68.5 percent is properly processed<\/li>\n
  3. 117 million kilograms disappear from the supply chain<\/li>\n
  4. 271 million kilograms collected in 2025<\/li>\n
  5. 39,407 data breach reports<\/li>\n
  6. The mandatory return requirement is still not in place<\/li>\n
  7. 80 kilograms of raw materials from 100 kilograms of e-waste<\/li>\n
  8. What the Cybersecurity Act Changes<\/li>\n
  9. Checklist for decision-makers<\/li>\n
  10. Frequently Asked Questions<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    E-waste in the Netherlands: An Overview<\/h3>\n
    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Indicator<\/th>\n2010<\/th>\n2024<\/th>\n2025<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    E-waste generated<\/td>\n309 million kg<\/td>\n373 million kg<\/td>\nTBD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Properly collected and processed<\/td>\n39%<\/td>\n68,5%<\/td>\n271 million kg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Leakage<\/td>\nTBD<\/td>\n117 million kg<\/td>\nTBD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Data Breach Reports to the AP<\/td>\nN\/A<\/td>\n37.839<\/td>\n39.407<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

    1. 373 million kilograms of e-waste are generated each year<\/h2>\n

    In 2010, the Netherlands produced 309 million kilograms of electrical waste. By 2024, that volume had grown to 373 million kilograms. The total amount of equipment in circulation reached a record 6.8 billion kilograms in 2024, primarily due to the growth of solar panels, heat pumps, air conditioners, and electric bicycles. Afvalgids<\/a> Recyclingmagazine<\/a><\/p>\n

    What is purchased today will become e-waste in five to eight years. For IT equipment, that cycle is shorter. A fleet of 500 laptops will become a disposal challenge involving data within four years. <\/p>\n

    2. Of all e-waste, 68.5 percent is processed correctly<\/h2>\n

    In 2024, 68.5 percent of the generated electrical waste, over 255 million kilograms, was collected and processed through the formal system. Including export for reuse, the effective collection rate stands at 71.2 percent. Afvalgids<\/a> Recyclingmagazine<\/a><\/p>\n

    That is nearly double the figure from 2010. It also means that nearly one-third of all e-waste in the Netherlands remains outside the regulated supply chain. <\/p>\n

    3. 117 million kilograms disappeared from the supply chain<\/h2>\n

    In 2024, approximately 117 million kilograms disappeared into leakage streams: residual waste, the scrap metal circuit, and uncertified processing. Recyclingmagazine<\/a><\/p>\n

    For an IT manager, this is the core problem. Equipment that disappears through such channels leaves the organization without being recorded, without a certificate, and without any certainty regarding the data storage media still inside it. There is no proof, so there is also no answer to an audit question.<\/p>\n

    Those who have their end-of-life IT equipment processed<\/a> are, first and foremost, purchasing proof of compliance. <\/p>\n

    4. In 2025, 271 million kilograms of e-waste were collected<\/h2>\n

    The weight of collected waste increased by 5.7 percent in 2025 to 271 million kilograms. Never before had so many discarded appliances been collected in the Netherlands. This growth is primarily due to the incentive program run by the OPEN Foundation, which accounted for nearly 70 million kilograms in 2025\u2014or 25 percent of the total collected. Recyclingmagazine<\/a><\/p>\n

    So the trend is positive. We’re heading in the right direction\u2014the question is the pace. <\/p>\n

    5. In 2025, there were 39,407 data breach reports<\/strong><\/p>\n

    A total of 39,407 data breaches were reported to the Dutch Data Protection Authority in 2025, compared to 37,839 in 2024. In 419 cases, the incident involved a lost or stolen laptop, phone, or USB drive.Dutch Data Protection<\/a> Authority, MOC Publishers<\/a><\/p>\n

    Those 419 reports concern equipment that was still in use. With decommissioned IT equipment, there\u2019s no user to notice that something is missing. A laptop that has been sitting on a warehouse shelf for 18 months doesn\u2019t flag itself as a risk.<\/p>\n

    That is why data destruction<\/a> is not the final step in the disposal process, but rather the starting point. For high-risk data streams, this is done on-site<\/a>, before the equipment leaves the premises. <\/p>\n

    6. The requirement to issue [the document] has still not been implemented<\/h2>\n

    In May 2026, the OPEN Foundation stated that the legal obligation to deliver discarded electronics to specialized processors had still not gone into effect, and that as a result, 35 million kilograms of additional waste had gone uncollected. Waste Guide<\/a><\/p>\n

    The requirement has been announced, postponed several times, and remains on the schedule. For organizations that already work with a certified processor<\/a>, the implementation will have little impact. For everyone else, it will be a race against the clock to catch up.<\/p>\n

    7. At least 80 kilograms of raw materials come from 100 kilograms of e-waste<\/h2>\n

    According to the OPEN Foundation, at least 80 kilograms of new raw materials can be recovered from every 100 kilograms of collected electronic waste. This contributes to the security of supply of materials for the energy transition and the electrification of industry. Engineers Online<\/a><\/p>\n

    At IT Recycling, destruction is a last resort, not the default approach. Equipment that can be securely wiped and is still technically sound is given a second life through hardware procurement<\/a>. Items that cannot be reused are sent for material recovery. Destruction is reserved for data storage devices with a high-risk profile. <\/p>\n

    What the Cybersecurity Act Means for Your E-Waste<\/h2>\n

    Since August 15, 2026, the Cybersecurity Act, the Dutch implementation of the NIS2 Directive, has been in effect. Over 8,000 organizations fall directly under it. The chain obligations extend to tens of thousands of suppliers, who must be able to demonstrate that they work securely. Nctv<\/a> Schoonmakendnederland<\/a><\/p>\n

    Anyone who processes decommissioned IT equipment for an organization within the scope is part of that chain. The question therefore shifts from \u201cWill it be picked up?\u201d to \u201cCan you show what happened to it?\u201d <\/p>\n

    This is how you maintain control over decommissioned IT<\/h2>\n

    Six key considerations for decision-makers, IT managers, and procurement professionals:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Take inventory of the \u201csilent inventory.\u201d<\/strong> Equipment that has been written off but is still on the premises is registered property that poses an outstanding risk.<\/li>\n
    2. Determine the risk profile for each data stream.<\/strong> Not every drive requires the same method. Wiping, degaussing, and physical destruction address different risks.<\/li>\n
    3. Verify the chain of custody.<\/strong> Use your own staff and transportation, or a series of subcontractors you are not familiar with.<\/li>\n
    4. Separate data and material flows.<\/strong> Hot and cold zones should remain physically and administratively separate.<\/li>\n
    5. Require reporting as standard.<\/strong> Certificates, validated reports, and ESG reports should be included in the service, not subject to an additional charge.<\/li>\n
    6. Make reuse a priority.<\/strong> Value that you throw away is gone for good.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Frequently Asked Questions About E-Waste in the Netherlands<\/h2>\n

      What exactly counts as e-waste?<\/strong>
      Any device with a power cord or battery. For organizations, this primarily includes laptops, desktops, servers, networking equipment, monitors, phones, and printers. Anything that may contain a data storage device requires a separate assessment.<\/p>\n

      How much e-waste is recycled in the Netherlands?<\/strong>
      In 2024, 68.5 percent of the released volume was correctly collected and processed, over 255 million kilos. In 2025, the collected weight rose to 271 million kilos.       Afvalgids<\/a> Recyclingmagazine<\/a><\/p>\n

      Is my organization required to hand over discarded electronics to a certified processor?<\/strong>
      The statutory obligation to disclose has been announced but is not yet in force. Processing itself is already permitted exclusively by parties holding a WEEELABEX or CENELEC certificate. Furthermore, under the GDPR and the Cybersecurity Act, you must be able to demonstrate what has happened to your data carriers.<\/p>\n

      What is the difference between erasure and destruction?<\/strong>
      Erasure allows for reuse and is appropriate for a low- to medium-risk profile. Physical destruction is permanent and is appropriate for high-risk data. The choice is based on risk, not convenience. Both methods result in a certificate.<\/p>\n

      Leave No Trace<\/h3>\n

      The figures show that the Netherlands is making progress. They also reveal where things go wrong: in the equipment that never reaches the formal chain. Data, materials, and responsibility are left behind there.<\/p>\n

      \u201cLeave No Trace\u201d means that nothing from your organization remains in what you dispose of. No data risk, no loose ends in the chain, no unnecessary loss of value.<\/p>\n

      Schedule an appointment<\/a> or see how we process decommissioned IT equipment<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Sources:<\/strong> The Dutch WEEE Flows 2024<\/a> (UNITAR and Stichting OPEN), Data Breach Report 2025<\/a> (Dutch Data Protection Authority), Cybersecurity Act<\/a> (NCSC).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5131,"template":"","subject":[],"label":[19],"class_list":["post-5260","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","label-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/it-recycling.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/5260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/it-recycling.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/it-recycling.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/it-recycling.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/it-recycling.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/it-recycling.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=5260"},{"taxonomy":"label","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/it-recycling.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/label?post=5260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}