WEEE Directive Waste from electrical and electronic equipment Workshop EU legislation Sofia, 20 April 2006 Willem Canneman

1. WEEE in a nutshell Introduction Waste regulation is here to stay and probably grow Transposed in most EU countries by now (except UK and Malta) All smaller EU-member states have collective systems. So far troubles in UK, France Legal principle: producers responsability

Scope Regulates the end of life of electrical and electronic equipment Vast scope of consumer and professional equipment Basic categories in Annex IA More detailed list in Annex IB Not the same (unclear) scope in all EU member states

Collection Take back system free of charge for consumer from 13 August 2005 Take back on 1-to-1 basis for distributors when supplying new product (old for new) Final holders (consumers) and distributors of WEEE can return waste to collection points « at least free of charge » Binding collection target for waste from private households

Who pays and how? Consumer equipment ( Household waste ) Each producer is responsible for financing of waste from his own products He can do this individually or by joining a collective system Visible fee allowed in all countries to 2011 Historical waste from households: collective financing and visible fee allowed « Orphan waste »: System of financial guarantees

Who pays and how? Professional equipment «« New » waste: producer is responsible, but does not need to pay. Agreement between partiesAgreement between parties

Marking Producers have to mark their products from 13 August 2005 onwards to : Avoid WEEE entering the municipal waste stream by using the mark of a crossed out wheeled bin distinguish “historical” from “new” waste EEE Identify producer of an EEE put on the market after 13 August 2005

Recycling and Substance Bans Recycling and recovery targets by Regular review of these Substance ban of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium PBDE and PBB from (RoHS directive)

How does WEEE affect you? How does it affect us? Obligations of the various economic players of the supply chain? The main points: – –Who is the « producer »? – –Financial guarantees? – –Marking of EEE? – –Take back obligations?

The Scope of WEEE: problems are not clearly definedGeneric criteria are not clearly defined Differences between member statesDifferences between member states WEEE and RoHS should have the same scopeWEEE and RoHS should have the same scope

Avoiding free riders and non-registered producers Obligation to register is the essential element for ensuring a framework for fair competitionObligation to register is the essential element for ensuring a framework for fair competition GuaranteesGuarantees Waste management provisionsWaste management provisions Data (input/output)Data (input/output) Effective & sustainable market surveillanceEffective & sustainable market surveillance Keep industry closely involvedKeep industry closely involved Companies have a strong interest to identify free- riders and cherry-pickersCompanies have a strong interest to identify free- riders and cherry-pickers

What to conclude? We have many common interests Free movement of EEE within the internal market is a mustFree movement of EEE within the internal market is a must Legal certainty: who has to fulfil what obligation?Legal certainty: who has to fulfil what obligation? Level playing field for companies: manufacturers-distributors-retailersLevel playing field for companies: manufacturers-distributors-retailers No interest to waste money in bureaucracyNo interest to waste money in bureaucracy

How are we pursuing our work? Most work is at a national levelMost work is at a national level At Orgalime level common coordination meetings with national - European industry sector associationsAt Orgalime level common coordination meetings with national - European industry sector associations Orgalime Guides (see Guide to understanding the WEEE DirectiveGuide to understanding the WEEE Directive Orgalime WEEE & RoHS Scope GuideOrgalime WEEE & RoHS Scope Guide Guide to Contractual Options for B2B equipment under WEEEGuide to Contractual Options for B2B equipment under WEEE Orgalime RoHS GuideOrgalime RoHS Guide