.svg)
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) was introduced into UK law in January 2007 by the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment Regulations 2006. The Directive was introduced to reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) being produced and to encourage reuse, recycling and recovering. It was also aimed at improving the environmental performance of businesses that manufacture, supply, use, recycle and recover EEE. However, it has become clear that there is room for further improvement and simplification, which is why, like the RoHS Directive, the WEEE Directive has been updated. A re-cast has ended with the publication of a new WEEE Directive (2012/19/EU), which was published in issue L197 of the Official Journal in July 2012. James Hunt explains the requirements and targets of the re-cast WEEE Directive and what they mean for Voltimum users:
EU legislation to restrict the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and to promote the collection and recycling of such equipment has been in force around 10 years. Even now, little more than a third of such waste is treated in line with the WEEE Directive; the remaining two thirds is still going to landfill. This means losing valuable secondary raw materials, but it is also a major environmental and health risk. Not only that, complying with the substance restrictions has proved sometimes difficult to implement and enforce.
In addition, over the first few years of the original Directive, a number of technical, legal and administrative difficulties became apparent. These often resulted in unintended costs and a burden on many involved organisations and administrations. The WEEE Directive was, therefore, included in the Commission's programme for up-date and simplification.
These are the reasons for the EC re-casting the WEEE and RoHS Directives, which are now in force, and which are the subject of this VoltiTECH. The EC says that the new WEEE Directive is a step forward in terms of environmental protection, and will be a significant boost to EU resource efficiency. Systematic collection and proper treatment is essential for recycling materials such silver, copper, gold and rare metals used in a wide range of EEE.
New WEEE collection targets:
The EU aims to collect around 10m tonnes of European e-waste by 2020, representing around 85% of WEEE generated in the EU by this date. The new Directive sees the introduction of a collection target of 45% of EEE sold that will apply from 2016. In a second phase from 2019, the target is 65% of the average weight of products placed on the market in the two preceding years, or 85% of EEE generated. Member States can choose which one of these two target equivalent measures they want to report. Therefore, the aim is to collect and treat 85% of all WEEE generated by 2020, which represents roughly 20kg/capita. By 2020, it is estimated that the volume of WEEE will have increased to 12m tonnes.
In addition, from 2018, the WEEE Directive will be extended from its current restricted scope to all categories of WEEE, subject to an impact assessment beforehand.
Aims of the re-cast WEEE Directive:
Apart from the new WEEE collection targets, the aims of the re-cast WEEE Directive (2012/19/EU) are essentially to harmonise producer registration and reporting obligations and ensure that producers need only register and report in one Member State for all their EU activities. This could save an estimated €60m. The methods of achieving this are to clarify the scope and definitions, alter the collection target from the current 4kg/capita/ year to a variable target taking into account individual Member States' economies.
Although many Member States have already reached the 65% target, it becomes binding in 2016, allowing other Member States time to comply.
Other changes include recovery and recycling/re-use targets for medical devices, a socially and environmentally viable combined recycling and re-use target that should reduce current deterrents to re-using, setting minimum inspection requirements for Member States to strengthen enforcement, include minimum monitoring requirements for shipping WEEE, and to make Member States encourage producers to finance all collection costs.
Illegal shipments of WEEE are a serious problem, especially when disguised as legal shipments of used equipment to circumvent EU waste treatment rules, so the re-cast WEEE Directive aims to make it easier to fight the illegal export of waste more effectively. It also obliges exporters to test whether equipment works or not, and provide documents on shipments thought illegal.
Note that if an item of EEE has been discarded by the holder into any waste collection system it will become WEEE. There will also be cases where EEE is returned to a retailer or producer and remain EEE until its status is known following examination and testing. Simply because an item of equipment has been classified as waste does not mean that it must be destroyed, or that it cannot be repaired or refurbished and put back into use. However, for as long as an item is waste, waste management controls will apply.
Note also that compliance is the responsibility of manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retail outlets (all collectively defined as 'producers').
WEEE Directive scope:
The WEEE Directive applies to all EEE listed in the categories below, which depends upon electricity or electromagnetic fields to work, plus equipment for the generation, transfer and measurement of such currents and fields. Such equipment is designed for use with a voltage not exceeding 1000V AC and 1500V DC, provided that the equipment concerned is not part of another type of equipment that does not fall within the scope of the Directive.
The products concerned include small and large household appliances, consumer equipment, IT and telecommunications equipment, lighting equipment, electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools), monitoring and control instruments, medical devices (with the exception of all implanted and infected products), automatic dispensers, as well as toys, leisure and sports equipment.
How does it affect contractors?
Although the responsibility for recycling lies with 'producers' (including wholesalers and retailers etc) of EEE, there are implications for electrical contractors. For example, those contractors who, as part of their business, buy in components to assemble products and then sell the finished items badged with their name, are categorised as 'producers'. In that case, they are responsible for paying for the transportation and recycling of EEE waste.
The costs of recycling EEE waste could increase the construction costs of new buildings - and may already be doing so. Therefore, electrical contractors should make contingency for this in their tenders. Also, strictly speaking, domestic clients / building owners have to pay their installer or local authority to transport EEE waste to a recycling centre - though the cost has to be borne by the 'producer'.
For more information about the WEEE and RoHS Directives, see an earlier VoltiTECH at www.voltimum.co.uk/news/7533/infopro.newsletter.bulletin/voltibulletin---may-2007---weee-and-rohs-directives.html
Also go to: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee/index_en.htm