More reuse, less waste: Recupel and Brainscape join forces
In 2024, nearly 6.5 million discarded electrical and electronic devices were collected via Recupel and its partners. With this new collaboration, both organisations explicitly place reuse at the heart of the circular economy, ahead of recycling.
Mobile phones collected during Recupel’s pop-up collection campaigns are transferred to Brainscape. There, all personal data is completely and certified erased in full compliance with GDPR regulations. Each device then undergoes a technical screening and quality control process. Devices that meet the required standards are made ready for reuse and redistributed, including through second-hand shops that are partners of Recupel.
Devices that are not fully suitable for reuse are partially dismantled. Components with residual value are reused, while the remaining materials are recycled. In this way, valuable raw materials such as gold, silver and palladium are recovered and reintroduced into the economic cycle.
According to Recupel, reuse is becoming an increasingly important pillar in the responsible management of electronic waste. “A win-win situation for all parties involved,” emphasises Eric Dewaet, CEO of Recupel. “Thanks to this collaboration, more high-quality devices are given a second life. They are prepared for reuse according to the highest quality standards and made available to consumers at an affordable price. This stimulates economic activity and employment at Brainscape and among Recupel’s social economy partners, while also reducing electronic waste in society.”
At Brainscape, the focus is equally on quality, security and traceability. “Being entrusted with this assignment is an important recognition of our continued commitment to certification, expertise and controlled processes within the circular economy,” says Max Wouters of Brainscape. “By maximising reuse, we extend the lifespan of electronic devices and reduce the need for new raw materials.”
Through this collaboration, Recupel and Brainscape anchor reuse as a permanent step within the Belgian collection and processing of discarded electronics, creating tangible benefits for the environment, the economy and society.
About Recupel
Recupel organises the collection and processing of discarded electrical and electronic equipment in Belgium. Together with producers, retailers and partners, Recupel focuses on reuse, recycling and the responsible recovery of raw materials.
About Brainscape
Brainscape is a Flemish company specialising in the reuse and refurbishment of electronic devices and IT equipment. The company combines certified data erasure with circular processing and supports organisations in achieving their sustainability and ESG objectives.
