2024 – a year of transitions
Following the transfer of the Swico audit function from Empa to dss+, the Swico/SENS Technical Commission was restructured and successfully furthered its collaboration with recycling partners on audits.
Start of collaboration
The Swico/SENS Technical Commission meets quarterly, three times as a smaller committee and once in a plenary meeting with all the auditors. The switch of the Swico audit body from Empa to dss+ also represents a significant transition for the Technical Commission. However, this was made easier by the fact that the new dss+ auditors had already been part of the Technical Commission as former Empa employees. As such, the initial work was focused on reintroduction, familiarisation and ensuring a smooth transition. Instead of a further training programme, a plenary meeting was held in 2024, at which the project team presented the new WEEE flow software that will replace Toocy, the previous material flow software, in 2025 (Software). The transition to the new software, which offers new options for recording and evaluating material flow data, was discussed in detail and adjustments were made.
Changes to audit documentation
One of the main tasks undertaken by the Technical Commission is updating and continuously developing all the audit documents. Following the entry into force of the supplementary technical regulations on 1 January, all the audit documentation was amended accordingly. In view of the increased volume of lithium batteries and the associated fire risk, the Technical Commission revised the dismantling facility protocols. The focus was on training employees in the safe handling and storage of lithium batteries, carrying out detailed risk analyses to identify and evaluate potential fire hazards, and implementing processes for the detection, sorting, handling and storage of lithium batteries and removing pollutants from them. There was a particular focus on the flow of information between dismantling facilities and recyclers in the interests of safe, efficient processing.
Conducting joint audits
With few exceptions, all audits of recycling partners who are under contract to both Swico and SENS are conducted jointly, with alternating leads. This proven collaboration between the auditors also contributed to the smooth transition of audit activities and successful introductions between the auditors and the recyclers.
In 2024, the audit team comprised nine auditors: Stefanie Conrad, Niklaus Renner, Esther Thiébaud, Andreas Bill, Flora Conte, Roger Gnos, Anahide Bondolfi, Tetiana Gagarina, Roman Eppenberger, Daniel Savi and Thekla Scherer. Arthur Haarman is missing from the picture.