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The European
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive (2002/96/EC)
came into force in February 2003. It sets collection, recycling and
recovery targets for all types of electrical and electronic products.
The
directive affects organisations who produce, distribute or recycle
electrical and electronic equipment and aims to reduce the amount of
waste generated by these items and increase, recovery, re-use and
recycling of a large range of appliances, equipment and devices.
Adhering to the Polluter Pays Principle, these organisations, rather
than private householders will be expected to finance implementation of
the directive. It is estimated that in the UK 25,000 producers or
importers and around 75,000 retailers will have an obligation under
these regulations.
Key elements
of the WEEE Directive and the related Restriction on Hazardous
Substances (RoHS) Directive (2002/95/EC) are:
-
The introduction of a compulsory household collection target of 4
kg, by the end of 2006*, with a new target to be established by the
end of 2008.
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Compulsory producer responsibility for financing the implementation
of the directive, with the costs of historical waste being shared
proportionately by those producers existing in the market when the
costs arise. Special arrangements must also be made to guard against
costs related to orphan WEEE.
-
Availability of collective or individual financing schemes for
producers.
-
The introduction of a ban, from July 2006, of the use of heavy
metals and toxic flame retardants in the manufacture of appliances.
-
Special requirements for the treatment of products containing
“clever chips”.
*Implementation of UK producer responsibility regulations relating to
the directive has been delayed. In December 2005, the Department for
Trade and Industry (DTI) announced a review of existing proposals and
confirmed that it would be issuing a fourth consultation document. This
is expected to happen in Spring 2006. Legislation due to take effect in
June 2006 may now be delayed until December 2006. |
