Tag: electrical waste

The European Parliament and the 27 EU member states are set for difficult negotiations over the recast of the bloc’s electronic waste directive as MEPs insist on ambitious targets for collecting and recycling discarded fridges, phones and other e-waste than the member states can accept.

The EU's WEEE Directive to collect and recycle electronic waste has created a heavy administrative burden for companies that is exacerbated by the multitude of national systems, says Kirstie McIntyre from HP.

The Commission's proposals on waste are foggy on key definitions that are at the heart of the new strategy focusing on life-cycle thinking, a panel of MEPs, business and NGO experts agreed.

The directive on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) aims to increase the re-use, recycling and recovery of waste from a variety of consumer products ranging from light bulbs to PCs, mobile phones, medical devices and sports equipment. The WEEE directive is complemented by a directive on the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment. The two directives came into force in 2003 but have come under fire for being too complicated, too costly and even for being impossible to implement.

On 18 December, the Parliament and the council gave their final approval on the draft directives on the electronic waste (WEEE) and on the use of hazardous substances in electrical equipment (ROHS).

On 10 April 2002, the European Parliament adopted its opinion on the draft directives on electronic waste and hazardous substances. Contrary to the Council's recommendation, the MEPs voted for individual producer responsibility and raised the compulsory collection targets.

On 21 March, the European Parliament's Environment Committee will adopt reports on the WEEE directive and environmental crime.

A new study provides evidence that the regeneration of waste oils into new oils is a better environmental option than incineration. It also shows that incentives are needed to promote regeneration.

In the run-up to the second reading in the Parliament of the electronic waste directive, environmental NGOs are asking MEPs to tighten up the common position of the Council.

European Parliament adopts in first reading several amendments to Commission proposals dealing with electrical and electronic waste