Swico reuse pilot project

Over a period of 12 months, separate reuse containers were installed next to the regular recycling containers at 12 collection points in German and French-speaking Switzerland, where consumers could directly deposit their discarded, but potentially still functional devices, for reuse. After collection, the devices were tested by qualified inspection bodies to determine functionality and reusability.

Data protection is of the highest priority, particularly for Swico devices. Consumers are advised to completely delete personal data before handing them over. At the same time, all devices collected are subject to data deletion.

A total of 4,565 devices were analysed – 1,686 from the reuse boxes and 2,879 from the standard recycling containers. The analysis showed that between 7% and 19% of the devices collected via the reuse channel would actually have been reusable, with laptops found to be particularly suitable. However, the majority of the devices were not reusable because they were too old, damaged, or blocked due to cloud activation locks. Consumers often overestimated the actual reusability of smartphones in particular. At the same time, the study also determined that some usable devices are still found in the regular recycling containers.

The project has provided valuable insights into how reuse structures could be technically and organisationally integrated into existing collection processes and forms the basis for a second pilot phase with more targeted drop-off and deeper integration of repair partners. The second phase was officially launched with a collection campaign on Repair Thursday on 27 November 2025 at the city of Zurich’s new exchange point (Josy). A clear distinction between recycling and reuse remains crucial: only devices that are specifically deposited in the reuse boxes can be considered for reuse.

Further information