DTI likely to miss target for WEEE Directive

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Aug 6, 2004

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive and the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive were enacted in 2002 in answer to increasing levels of electronic and electrical waste.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive were enacted in 2002 in answer to increasing levels of electronic and electrical waste.

These directives will provide incentives for more environmentally friendly designs.

The directives are supposed to be implemented in all EU member states by 13th August 2004; however, there are still doubts whether DTI will manage to meet the deadline.

The WEEE Directive covers electronic and electrical equipment such as 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 the collection of 4kg 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, including luminaires 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 13th August 2005.