63,251 tonnes were collected in 2024 in historical sectors, i.e. +5% compared to 2023. With the six new REP sectors deployed during the year, the total reaches more than 91,000 tonnes.
The Réunion Import and Trade Union (SURE) does not just support its members in complying with their environmental obligations. It centralizes data from all sectors with extended producer responsibility (REP), in collaboration with Ademe and eco-organizations. Early December, it is through the voice of its president, Philippe-Alexandre Rebboah, that the results for the year 2024 were announced on the SUEZ hazardous industrial waste platform in Saint-André, emblematic place of waste management in Reunion. A year and an assessment marked by two developments. First, the local deployment of six new REP sectors : games and toys, DIY and garden items (in the three DIY materials sectors, thermal motorized machines and devices and painter's tools), building construction products and materials (PMCB) and sporting and leisure articles (ASL).
For their first year of collection, these six sectors made it possible to recover 28,100,5 tonnes of waste and end-of-life products, mainly PMCBs. The vast majority of games and toys collected (41 tons out of 49) received a second life thanks to reuse. At the end of the day, between historical sectors and new sectors, 91,352 tonnes of waste were collected and processed in 2024. “We can congratulate ourselves on the collective work carried out, keeping in mind that we still have a long way to go to achieve optimal management and recovery of our waste”, warned Philippe-Alexandre Rebboah.
A reuse indicator integrated into the REP balance sheet
The second development occurring in 2024 concerns the establishment in Reunion of reuse and repair funds. The AGEC law requires that 5% of the eco-contribution received by eco-organizations on each product sold be reserved for reuse and repair.. For the first time, the 2024 report therefore includes a reuse indicator : 1,050 tonnes of products were reused in the REP sectors of electrical and electronic equipment, tires, games and toys, textiles, household linens, shoes, furniture, DIY and garden and sports and leisure.
Pretreatment of lithium-ion batteries at the end of their life
The first shipment of used lithium-ion batteries to mainland France took place in December. This waste mainly comes from electric vehicle batteries.. SUEZ Recycling and Valorization Réunion created in 2024, on its industrial site in Saint-André, the first pre-treatment workshop for used lithium-ion batteries from the SUEZ group. These batteries require special treatment and packaging to protect against the risk of explosion during transport.. Mastering this know-how, SUEZ RV Réunion prepared this first shipment as part of annual hazardous waste shipments (and not dangerous) organized with the shipping company Mer Union*. On this type of waste, “Our teams deploy reinforced protocols for preventing fire risks and thermal reactions, packaging and transport devices, as well as awareness-raising work among professionals and communities”, said Hervé Madiec, regional director SUEZ Indian Ocean. “This subject will be one of the challenges of the REP batteries in 2026”, recalled Philippe-Alexandre Rebboah for his part.
