| Tweet |
Revised WEEE Directive Ignores The Environmental Benefits Of Re-Use
24 January 2012
The European Parliament (EP) last week (19 January) voted on a revision to the existing Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. However, despite the apparent strengthening of the legislation, the lack of re-use has spurred questions on the industry
Whilst the vote demonstrates the ever growing and welcome political will behind the pressing problem of e-waste, fears have been voiced that the recast legislation represents a step in the wrong direction.
The new text of the WEEE Directive appears to overlook the EU's very own waste hierarchy, which encourages the prevention of waste, followed by the reuse and refurbishment of goods, then value recovery through recycling and finally energy recovery. Instead, the recast puts the emphasis on the recovery and recycling processes over and above the less energy intensive reuse path for electronic goods.
The new legislation includes the following amendments: It sets incremental targets for e-waste collection; all member states will need to ensure that they collect the current rate of 4kg (8.8 pounds) per person per year. By 2016, member states will need to collect 45 tonnes of e-waste for every 100 tonnes of electronic goods put on the market over the previous three years, increasing to 65 tonnes in 2019, or alternatively member states will be able to choose to collect 85 percent of total e-waste generated.
Large stores selling electronic items (with a floor space of more than 400 sq metres) will be obliged to take back small items, regardless of whether the customer purchases an item in the store.
It promises to tighten controls on e-waste exports and requires exporters to properly demonstrate that their goods are being shipped for repair or legitimate reuse.
Anja Ffrench, director of communications at UK IT charity, Computer Aid said: "Computer Aid wholeheartedly welcomes the additions to the Directive, having higher recycling collection targets and tighter border controls on e-waste exports, will help to reduce the amount of electronic equipment either being sent to landfill or being illegally exported to developing countries. We are nonetheless extremely disappointed that no reuse target has been included.
"The suggested 5 percent re-use target put forward by the EP earlier in the year was, in our opinion, already far too low. Through our work, Computer Aid is acutely aware of the value of reuse, especially for ICT equipment. In Europe computers and laptops are almost always replaced long before the end of their productive lives and can be used for at least a further three to four years.
"By avoiding the inclusion of a re-use target, the EP not only ignores the environmental benefits of re-use but also reduces the potential opportunities for social inclusion and development that more affordable reused electronic equipment can bring. Including a re-use target would have ensured that reuse really occurs and would help to raise awareness of the need to consider re-use before opting for the less environmentally friendly option of recycling. The EP has clearly wasted a significant opportunity to improve the environmental and social impact of the Directive."
Darrel Moore
Login /Register
