Consumers who want to get rid of their old electrical appliances can now hand them in at ViaTim's neighbourhood points. In Zwolle, the startup is testing recycling of electrical appliances via neighbourhood points.
Webshops are obliged to take back electrical appliances, but this service is often not visibly offered, ViaTim states in a press release. Many webshops therefore do not comply with current legislation.
Together with students from Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, the startup has been working on a solution to promote the collection of electrical appliances. ViaTim, which was founded in 2016 to solve the problem of the closed door, works for the last mile with neighbourhood points: neighbours who accept parcels for neighbours who are not at home for a fee. The delivery driver can then always drop off their parcel and consumers can visit in the evening to pick up their order.
These neighbourhood points are now being used to recycle electrical appliances. A ViaTim Point collects electrical appliances for the entire neighbourhood. These are then collected and delivered to a recycling company. ViaTim: "This ensures that the costs for the shops are much lower and that they can still comply with the law this way. The environmental impact of collecting and sending appliances bundled together will be lower than if each product is sent separately."
ViaTim is currently testing the service at some neighbourhood points in and around Zwolle.
