EU environment deadline missed
Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom comments: "I am disappointed that 24 member states have missed today's deadline and urge them to speed up the legislative process. We need to act quickly to stop the damage that electric waste is creating."
Most other member states are in the process of adopting legislation that will then be sent to the European Commission for compliance checking. The Commission can open infringement procedures against member states that do not meet transposition deadlines.
The Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE Directive) requires EU15 member states to set up collection systems for electronic equipment by August 2005 (August 2007 for the new member states). When these systems are in place, consumers will be able to take these products back to shops and collection points free of charge. Member states will also have to collect at least 4 kg of this waste from households per inhabitant and year. There are also reuse and recycling targets for different products.
The Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) bans certain hazardous substances such as lead and cadmium from electronic equipment from July 1, 2006 onward. Lead has been proven to have effects on cognitive systems, particularly in children. Cadmium affects the functioning of kidneys.
The directives seek to ensure that old electric and electronic products are not simply thrown away, but are recycled and reused. Currently, most devices end up in municipal waste and are then landfilled or incinerated. Due to their hazardous contents, current waste management sets free pollutants that contaminate air, water and soil and can have adverse health effects. Offending products include TVs and washing machines, mobile phones and air conditioning units.
The EU reports that electric and electronic waste has been growing three times faster than other municipal waste. On average, each European citizen now produces some 14kg of this waste per year. At the same time, electric and electronic products are often made up of hazardous materials such as heavy metals and a large proportion of the various pollutants found in municipal waste comes from them. The two directives require producers to design and produce electric and electronic products in a way that facilitates their dismantling, reuse and recycling and to cover all related cost, including collection. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/index.htm
