Reel and Tray Recycling at ESO Electronic

ESO is now participating in Farnell’s electronic component reel and tray recycling program by sending our empty packaging to Farnell’s sheltered workshop. With this electronic component reel and tray recycling program, ESO is working to reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to a good social cause. ESO Electronic is an electronics manufacturing company specializing in express printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), offering SMD assembly and THT assembly in both Germany and Romania. 

Like many modern manufacturing companies, electronics manufacturing service providers (EMS) also generate a lot of waste from the thousands of packages of electronic components received each year for express PCBA. As part of our commitment to the environment and sustainability at ESO Electronic, we are always looking for ways to reduce the amount of packaging we use and find ways to reuse or recycle materials.

In 2017, we began participating in Farnell’s reel and tray recycling program. Electronic components for SMT assembly / SMD assembly such as capacitors, resistors, and ICs are typically delivered on reels, which are then placed on the SMT assembly machine for manufacturing. Many ICs and transistors are also packaged in plastic trays. These SMD assembly reels and trays are typically discarded after use, generating a significant amount of waste.

But most reels and trays for PCB assembly can actually be reused. Currently, over 250 companies across Europe participate in Farnell’s recycling program, including other electronics contract manufacturing companies, but also companies just doing their own printed circuit board assembly.

ESO Electronic specializes in rapid prototyping electronics assembly / Express PCBA and thus buys tens of thousands of different components a year for hundreds of customers.

Farnell accepts all 17,5 cm SMT reels and trays for recycling, regardless of whether the components for PCB assembly (PCBA) were purchased at Farnell or another electronic component supplier. After the reels and trays are collected from the customer, Farnell sends them to a sheltered workshop, where workers with disabilities clean the reels and trays so that they can be reused.

The recycling program does not just reduce waste and lower our carbon footprint – it also contributes to a good social cause by providing meaningful work to individuals with disabilities.

The program is easy and free: you just need to sign up online, and Farnell sends you cardboard boxes for both reels and trays. As soon as the boxes are full, you simply call Farnell and they arrange for a free pick up.

We appreciate Farnell’s efforts in spearheading this program, and are glad we and other electronics manufacturing service providers (EMS) specializing in PCBA can make a contribution to the environment and an important social cause.