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News Release from: TUV Rheinland UK | Subject: WEEE Directive
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 06 August 2004
Waste Electrical and Electronic
Equipment
Due to the increasing amount of electronic and electrical waste, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive and the Restriction on Hazardous Substances Directive were enacted in 2002
Due to the increasing amount of electronic and electrical waste, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and the Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive were enacted in 2002 These directives will provide incentives for more environmentally friendly designs
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 22 Aug 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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By August 2004, the directives had to be implemented in all EU member states; however, the DTI did not manage to meet the deadline.
The WEEE directive covers electronic and electric equipment like radios, IT, audio, toys, sports, leisure, consumer and telecommunications equipment as well as electrical tools, household appliances and control and monitoring instruments.
This directive will force producers and retailers to set up recycling and recovery systems for the above-mentioned products, according to specifically set targets.
Moreover, they will have to keep records about the effectiveness of those recycling programmes.
The first target is a collection of 4 kg of electronic and electrical waste per household by the end of 2006.
Recovery targets for 2006 are set between 50 and 80 % depending on the product category.
The RoHS directive comprises the same products as WEEE does, including luminaries in households but excluding control and monitoring instruments and medical devices.
From July 2006 onwards, this directive will require the substitution of brominated flame-retardants and particular heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury and lead in new electronic and electrical products.
Each EU member state can determine the penalty for non-compliance and the DTI is considering maximum penalties such as unlimited fines and two years of imprisonment.
Furthermore, private households need to know which products need to be disposed of separately.
Therefore, a picture of a crossed-out wheeled bin on products will identify products that must not be mixed with ordinary waste.
This symbol will be on the respective products that are launched after 13 August 2005.
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