DEBATE: Deposit on mobile phones threatens Swedish competitiveness and risks environmental goals

The report on a deposit system for small electronics recently submitted its proposals to the government. The report presents proposals for a deposit system and the alternative of a deposit certificate for mobile phones, but instead recommends increased producer responsibility to increase the collection of electronics. IT&Telekomföretagen welcomes this as an increased responsibility would be significantly more cost-effective and probably provide better environmental effects than a deposit system or deposit certificate. The focus must shift from recycling to increased reuse.

The purpose of the investigation has been to develop proposals to increase the collection and recycling of, among other things, mobile phones and thus contribute to resource-efficient cycles and a circular economy. Being the only country in Europe to create a national deposit system for mobile phones would be deeply unfortunate, for several reasons.

• Work is already underway within the EU to review a similar reward system. Introducing a Swedish and probably very costly system at present would create parallel processes, trade barriers for Swedish companies and impaired Swedish competition without any direct environmental benefit. In the national strategy for the circular economy, the government points to the importance of the EU for circularity in the market and the importance of addressing issues in an international context.
• Sweden operates in a global market, both in terms of purchasing mobile phones and recycling electronics. Given that a deposit must be added to the price of the product when it is sold, this could lead to poorer quality and more durable but cheaper mobiles being purchased via foreign suppliers, which shortens the lifespan of the Swedish market and in practice leads to several years of circularity for the product being lost through premature recycling. Such a system risks being in direct conflict with the EU's environmental objectives.
• We need to learn lessons from the implementation of the Swedish chemicals tax which, among other things, has already led to higher prices for electronics for consumers and created a large administrative burden for the industry without generating any positive environmental impact.
• A deposit system or deposit certificates can attract criminal activity and lead to Sweden becoming a recipient country for other countries' waste.

The industry obviously supports increased recycling, but it is equally important to promote reuse. Sweden is a European leader in the take-back of mobile phones. For several years, most electronics manufacturers and retailers have had trade-in programs or similar services whereby consumers can return an old product for some form of compensation. The volumes in the programs are constantly increasing. A large proportion of working mobile phones collected in Sweden are already exported to Europe for further use. Statistics and data on this are lacking in the decision-making basis for the investigation, for example on the import and export of new and used mobile phones.

Sweden must act thoughtfully and on the basis of an accurate evidence base. Empower the industry to produce accurate data and to improve information to consumers on how, for example, mobiles can be returned to lay the foundation for a change in consumer behavior. The industry also wants to create a generic take-back scheme not only for mobiles but also for e.g. tablets and computers. In addition, the industry wants to introduce a requirement that all mobile phone sellers are connected to certified recycling partners.

We urge the government to take responsibility for creating the conditions for long-term sustainable management of small electronics. This can be done by taking forward the inquiry's proposal for stricter producer responsibility and waiting for the European process. This is more cost-effective, benefits Swedish competitiveness and provides better and faster environmental effects.

Frida Faxborn, Industry Policy Expert, IT&Telecom Companies
Magdalena Aspengren, Head of Sustainability & Quality, Telenor and Chair of the IT&Telecom Companies Sustainability Council