| The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment | | | | manufacturers disposing of the waste correctly; |
| (WEEE) Directive, is one of the series of producer | | | | however it is the customer's responsibility to separate |
| responsibilities Directives that makes producers of new | | | | the electrics into the relevant groups they belong. To |
| equipment responsible for paying for the treatment and | | | | make they have disposed of the waste correctly they |
| recycling of products once they have been used to | | | | have to keep proof, that they have done it. |
| their fullest extent. These new laws affect any | | | | Just by disposing of electrical equipment appropriately |
| business that manufactures brands or imports EEE as | | | | it can help the environment a great deal. Just by doing |
| well as the businesses that sell store or treat Electrical | | | | this you are also doing your bit to help fight against |
| and Electronic Equipment (EEE). The laws will also | | | | global warming, habitat destruction and also helping to |
| affect businesses that have WEEE to dispose of and | | | | prevent deforestation. If these causes are not |
| the public who will have more opportunities to re-use, | | | | prevented, they can have devastating results upon the |
| recycle and recover these products. | | | | world and human beings. |
| The WEEE is aiming to conserve the landfill and | | | | With such thing as toasters, fridges and washing |
| support a more sustainable environment to boost | | | | machines are a growing environmental hazard. In the |
| recycling. Boost in recycling benefits everyone, the | | | | UK alone there is over two million tonnes being |
| environment, human beings, animals and more | | | | dumped in the landfill that was last year alone. Imagine |
| importantly the future generation. | | | | the damage from the other years? However there |
| A public consultation was launched on 25th July 2006; | | | | are no current incentives to encourage those that |
| this was launched in order to find out people's opinions | | | | produce the electronics to care about their life cycle of |
| upon the Directive. The aim was to seek the view of | | | | their products. |
| businesses, manufacturers, retailers, producers and | | | | It is said that the scheme that is being launched will |
| enforcement authorities on the initial draft of the | | | | establish a network of designated collection facilities |
| regulations. | | | | where consumers can get rid of their electrical waste |
| Some key dates regarding the WEEE directive in the | | | | correctly. Primarily the money will be paid to the local |
| UK: | | | | authorities to assist in the improvement of civic |
| December 2006 - transportation of the Directive into | | | | amenity sites so that the electrical waste products can |
| the UK | | | | be collect separated and disposed accordingly. |
| January 31st 2007 - deadline for the compliance | | | | The WEEE Regulations apply to electrical and |
| schemes to apply for approval. | | | | electronic equipment (EEE) which falls within the 10 |
| February 28th 2007 - deadline for compliance | | | | product categories listed in the WEEE Directive. These |
| schemes to be approved. | | | | 10 products are the following: |
| March 31st 2007 - deadline for producers/schemes to | | | | 1. Large household appliances |
| register | | | | 2. Small household appliances |
| April 1st 2007 - partial producer responsibility | | | | 3. IT & Telecommunications equipment |
| July 1st 2007 - full producer responsibility | | | | 4. Consumer equipment |
| The Introduction of the rules and regulations | | | | 5. Lighting equipment |
| surrounding the WEEE is due the high capacities of | | | | 6. Electrical and electronic tools |
| electrical waste being dumped incorrectly and | | | | 7. Toys leisure and sports equipment |
| disposed of in the incorrect manner. Electrical | | | | 8. Medical devices |
| equipment is highly dangerous as it contains poisonous | | | | 9. Monitoring and control instruments |
| chemicals. Most of the environmental concerns which | | | | 10. Automatic dispensers |
| lie with inappropriate disposal of computers are the | | | | The WEEE Regulations apply to the following groups: |
| monitor. Each colour monitor contains on an average | | | | * Producers (any business that manufactures, imports |
| of 4 to 5 pounds of lead. Other chemicals found in | | | | or re-brands electrical and electronic products) |
| computers are mercury, cadmium a known carcinogen | | | | * Retailers and Distributors (any business that sells |
| and Hexavalent Chromium which is known to cause | | | | electrical and electronic equipment to end users) |
| high blood pressure, iron-poor blood, liver disease, and | | | | * Local authorities |
| nerve and brain damage in animals. | | | | * Waste management industry |
| The law has finally made into the statute books and is | | | | * Exporters and pre-processors |
| due to take full effect from 1st July 2007. There is a | | | | * Businesses and other non-household users of |
| little surprise however for the UK; the law is just not | | | | electrical and electronic equipment. |
| simply "the polluter pays." It is the job of the | | | | |