Company history

In safe hands

We have pioneered environmental protection since 1993 and we are an Austrian showpiece company.

2002

Together with five other systems, UFH establishes the association of European collection and recovery systems for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), the WEEE Forum.

2005

This year marks the establishment of UFH Elektroaltgeräte Systembetreiber GmbH and UFH Altlampen Systembetreiber GmbH. They are collection and recovery systems for WEEE and waste lamps in Austria.

The Austrian WEEE Ordinance (Elektroaltgeräteverordnung), which is the national implementation of the EU WEEE Directive, replaces the Cooling Unit Ordinance on 13 August, thus eliminating the system of purchasing a disposal sticker (Kühlschrankpickerl).

In September, UFH launches the refund program for 3.9 million unredeemed refrigerator stickers.

2007

UFH Holding GmbH is founded as the parent company of the group.

2008

The Battery Ordinance (BatterienVO) comes into force as a national implementation of the European Battery Directive.

UFH Elektroaltgeräte Systembetreiber GmbH establishes a separate collection and recovery system for batteries from appliances and industrial batteries.

Together with Remondis Electrorecycling, UFH Holding founds UFH RE-cycling GmbH, holding a 51% stake.

2009

UFH RE-cycling GmbH opens one of the most modern refrigerator recycling facilities of its kind in Kematen/Ybbs.

UFH establishes UFH Verpackung Systembetreiber GmbH, adding packaging disposal to its portfolio.

UFH launches the “UFH-Trennungsprämie”, an incentive scheme to encourage the replacement of old electrical devices with energy-efficient household appliances.

2010

The majority stake in UFH Verpackung Systembetreiber GmbH is sold to the strategic partner Reclay – UFH holds a 10% stake in the newly formed Reclay UFH GmbH.

2011

The enabling act for the takeover of the reimbursement of refrigerator disposal fees comes into effect.

UFH signs an agreement with the Republic of Austria to continue managing and disbursing funds (refrigerator stickers) to consumers as a service provider.

2012

Together with Reclay UFH, the UFH systems prepare an internationalization strategy, ensuring cross-border solutions for the recovery and disposal of WEEE and commercial packaging.

2013

In September, UFH RE-cycling GmbH celebrates the disposal of 1 million refrigerators at one of Austria’s most modern refrigerator recycling facilities.

In November, UFH celebrates its 20th anniversary together with customers and representatives of official institutions, municipalities and companies from the recycling management industry under the motto of “20 years of a good climate”.

2014

The 2014 amendment to the WEEE Ordinance comes into effect on 1 July.

UFH Holding now offers foreign customers the ability to fulfil the obligations defined in the WEEE Ordinance as an authorised representative.

2015

In September, UFH RE-cycling GmbH celebrates the disposal of 1.5 million refrigerator.

UFH RE-cycling GmbH is the first Austrian waste disposal company to successfully complete the certification process in accordance with the strict European WEEELABEX standard (WEEE Label of Excellence).

Together with the German Reclay Group, UFH offers customers packaging disposal solutions for the household sector. Reclay UFH GmbH has been the alternative system for commercial packaging since 2010 and with market expansion in 2015, it brings competition to the household sector as well.

2016

UFH expands its range of services and collects and disposes defective photovoltaic modules starting in January 2016.

2017

In August, UFH RE-cycling GmbH celebrates the recycling of 2 million refrigerator at one of Austria’s most modern recycling plants for refrigerators.

2018

UFH establishes a digital marketplace for secondary raw materials, Secontrade GmbH. The goal is to facilitate trade in valuable secondary raw materials and promote the circular economy.

2019

With the slogan “One economy, one cycle, one brand: UFH”, UFH undergoes a brand relaunch with a new website.

2020

Expansion of the UFH RE-cycling GmbH site in Kematen/Ybbs with a storage hall for hazardous waste, accommodating increasing waste volumes.

2021

UFH RE-cycling GmbH expands its portfolio with an absorber refrigerator recycling plant and celebrates the disposal of 3 million refrigerator in April.

2022

The Battery Ordinance Amendment (Batterien-VO) as well as the Waste Management Act Amendment 2021 (AWG-Novelle 2021) come into effect. As of 1 January 2022, UFH Holding can now also offer foreign customers the service of assuming the obligations for portable batteries as an authorised representative.

At UFH RE-cycling GmbH, an in-house photovoltaic system has been covering 10% of the electricity demand since April.

SECONTRADE undergoes a refresh and expands its portfolio. In addition to metals, plastics and glass, users can now easily and efficiently trade construction waste, wood waste, and biogenic residues in Austria and Europe.

2023

Under the motto “30 years of circular economy”, UFH celebrates its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of setting standards in climate and environmental protection.

UFH RE-cycling GmbH is celebrating its 15th anniversary. More than 1,000 refrigerators are properly disposed of and recycled daily at the Kematen/Ybbs site.

2024

UFH RE-cycling GmbH reaches a new milestone. Since the opening of the site, more than 4 million refrigerators have been environmentally disposed of and treated in a three-shift operation.

SECONTRADE expands its digital marketplace for secondary raw materials. Users can now also trade by-products and fractions that have reached end-of-waste status, benefiting from optimized usability.

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