PV CYCLE and the Czech WEEE-scheme RETELA have announced that they have started to collaborate in the area of PV module take-back and recycling in the Czech Republic.

The goal is to use RETELA's expertise for PV waste execution in the Czech Republic in the hope that it will better enable PV CYCLE to serve Czech PV value chain actors under the current Waste Act.

"We are excited to closely work with a strong partner like RETELA to help design a viable PV waste treatment sector in the Czech Republic," said Jan Clyncke, Managing Director of PV CYCLE. "With RETELA we have found a partner capable of meeting our particularly high environmental and technological standards, allowing us to continue our mission of providing PV value chain actors across Europe with sustainable and cost-effective take-back and recycling solutions."

"We are very proud to collaborate with PV CYCLE on PV waste management in the Czech Republic," said Jaroslav Vladik, Managing Director of RETELA and President of WEEELABEX.

"PV CYCLE has demonstrated thought leadership role by establishing a PV take-back and recycling solution and setting the benchmark for sustainable and cost-effective PV waste management."

Within the collaboration, RETELA will take on operative and administrative take-back and recycling duties for PV Producers and plant operators in the Czech Republic.

Playing an advisory role, PV CYCLE will bring its expertise in PV waste management to the collaboration and will help in the strategic setting of RETELA's PV value proposition for the Czech waste market.

As of March 2013, Czech Republic-based PV Producers - as defined by the WEEE Directive - have to register their company and provide, via a recognized Czech WEEE-scheme, a sufficient financial guarantee for the PV modules they put on the market as from January 1, 2013 onwards.

For PV modules put on the market before January 1, 2013, PV plant operators must conclude an agreement with a recognized Czech WEEE-scheme for the financing of the collection and treatment of their PV modules by June 30, 2013.