A new Dutch pilot project is testing whether discarded electrical devices can be channelled into a higher value circular pathway before they are recycled. Stichting OPEN and MrAgain have formally launched a nationwide trial, in partnership with Road2Work, designed to directly connect certified sorting operations, professional electronic repairers and consumer demand within a single integrated process. The agreement was signed by Coen Teeuw of Stichting OPEN and Joost van der Giessen of MrAgain, marking a strategic step toward extending device lifecycles across the Netherlands.
Addressing premature recycling losses
Each year, millions of electrical appliances in the Netherlands are discarded despite having minor defects or fully functional components. For the secondary mobile and electronics market, this represents a significant leakage of residual value. Stichting OPEN, responsible for the national collection and recycling of e-waste under producer responsibility rules, and MrAgain, an Utrecht-based repair marketplace, are now assessing whether post-collection sorting can systematically prioritise reuse over immediate material recovery.
Certified sorting meets repair demand
At the core of the pilot is a CENELEC-certified process that enables devices to be sorted, dismantled and tested to European electrical safety standards. Road2Work is responsible for the physical sorting, component harvesting and inspection, ensuring traceability and compliance. MrAgain provides the digital layer, matching harvested components with demand from certified repairers, including those active in smartphone, consumer electronics and household appliance repair.
Creating a new circular chain
The collaboration effectively creates a new circular chain that sits between collection and recycling. Stichting OPEN manages safe logistics and certified handling, while MrAgain orchestrates demand-driven allocation of usable parts. By integrating these functions, the partners aim to demonstrate that component reuse can be industrialised without disrupting existing compliance frameworks or recycling obligations.
Measuring financial and environmental impact
A key objective of the trial is to quantify both economic viability and environmental gains. Every repaired device and resold component is tracked, providing data on reuse rates, avoided production and potential emissions savings. This level of measurement is intended to clarify whether the model can deliver consistent margins while contributing meaningfully to circular economy targets.
Implications for the secondary market
For the secondary mobile and refurbished electronics sector, the pilot signals a maturing approach to lifecycle extension. Reliable access to tested components could reduce repair lead times, stabilise spare part pricing and lower dependence on newly manufactured parts. For producers, the initiative offers insight into how extended producer responsibility schemes might evolve to prioritise reuse before recycling.
Scaling decisions ahead
The pilot will run until the end of July 2026, after which the partners will decide whether to expand the model nationally. If successful, the approach could influence how e-waste systems across Europe integrate repair, refurbishment and certified component reuse into mainstream operations.
Market
Trade-in
Repair
Refurbishing
