Sustainable cooling & freezing appliance recycling in British Columbia

Case

Möbius assisted MARR in Canada in creating a strategic roadmap for an effective recycling program for cooling and freezing appliances in British Columbia.

MARR logo
recycling fridges and freezers

Client overview

The Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable (MARR) is a not-for-profit stewardship agency responsible for end-of-life major household appliances in British Columbia (BC) under the BC Recycling Regulation.

Strategic challenge

MARR sought to establish an optimal concept for the treatment of Cooling and Freezing Appliances (CFAs), and was looking to evaluate different operating models for feasibility within the BC environment (such as local governments & legislation and metal recyclers).

Möbius provided us with invaluable insights and a structured approach to navigate the complexities of establishing an efficient and sustainable recycling concept for cooling and freezing appliances in British Columbia. Their expertise in European take-back schemes and their thorough evaluation process were instrumental in shaping our future strategy.

Michael Zarbl Executive Director MARR

Approach

To address MARR's needs, Möbius proposed a comprehensive four-step approach to evaluate the different operating models, drawing from experience with the setup of collective take-back schemes for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and other product types in European countries.

  1. In the kick-off phase of the project, a refined scope, approach and deliverables were aligned with the key stakeholders. The history, environment and future outlook for MARR were discussed to be used as input for the future operating model evaluation framework.

  2. During the first round evaluation, the evaluation framework was developed, and several conceptual operating models were checked against this framework. During this phase, the different concepts were also evaluated based on the constraints relevant to MARR’s geographical and political situation and potential for volume growth in the future. Through a workshop with the MARR team, specific concepts were selected for deeper investigation in the next phase.

  3. In the second round evaluation, Möbius elaborated and compared the selected concepts in detail, gathering detailed information from existing European Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, leading to a second workshop. Cooperation concepts with recyclers, such as free market tendering, open book, and joint ventures, were thoroughly examined and proposed to the MARR team.

  4. Finally, Möbius created a report with strategic recommendations for MARR, drawing parallels and best practices from systems like Recupel, Stichting OPEN, and WEEE Ireland.


Result

Möbius provided MARR with a comprehensive analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats associated with the different operating models and a strategic roadmap for their CFA recycling program.

This included:

  • A detailed evaluation of various recycling concepts tailored to the British Columbia situation.

  • A structured selection process to identify the most feasible options.

  • Strategic considerations for engaging with the market and selecting partners.

  • Clear recommendations to guide MARR in implementing an efficient and environmentally responsible CFA recycling system.

Möbius's expertise empowered MARR to make informed decisions toward establishing a sustainable and effective system for recycling cooling and freezing appliances in British Columbia, aligning with regulatory requirements and environmental goals.