The procedure for the recovery and sale of CERN property was revised on 2 October 2026. This update clarifies the categorisation of property and the procedures to be followed for its re-use, recovery and disposal. Its purpose is to standardise practices, improve safety and traceability, and encourage the re-use of property wherever possible.

What is changing

Property is now categorised by type, and permitted buyers are defined for each category, together with the applicable administrative and sales formalities to be completed.

The main changes are as follows:

• scrap materials for disposal or recovery are now sold exclusively to professionals specialising in recovery, in order to ensure that they follow the appropriate pathways;
• machine tools must be systematically scrapped via the authorised pathway. For safety reasons, they may no longer be purchased by private individuals or professionals;
• the rules governing the purchase of computer equipment by members of the personnel, including how the purchase price is established, are now laid down in the procedure.

This update has also been done in the context of the conversion of Building 133 into CERN’s future non-radioactive waste sorting and re-use centre. Although construction of the centre is still in progress, recovery and sales activities continue, and the new provisions are already in force.

To find out more about the rules and arrangements in place, see the “Recuperation and sale of CERN property” page in the Admin e-guide. (This page is currently available in French only. English version to follow.)