EC Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
Directives 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment and 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment are designed to tackle the fast increasing waste stream of electrical and electronic equipment and complements European Union measures on landfill and incineration of waste. Increased recycling of electrical and electronic equipment will limit the total quantity of waste going to final disposal. (European Commission website)
As a result each EU Member State now has a legal obligation to minimise the disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment in landfill sites.
The EC Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment came into force in the UK in January 2007. The broad aim is to address the environmental impacts of electrical and electronic equipment when it reaches the end of its life. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations apply to electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) in the categories listed below with a voltage of up to 1000 volts for alternating current or up to 1500 volts for direct current:
- Large household appliances
- Small household appliances
- IT and telecommunications equipment
- Consumer equipment
- Lighting equipment
- Electrical and electronic tools
- Toys, leisure and sports equipment
- Medical devices
- Monitoring and control equipment
- Automatic dispensers
The regulations aim to:
- reduce waste from electrical and electronic equipment
- encourage the separate collection of WEEE
- encourage treatment, reuse, recovery, recycling and sound environmental disposal of WEEE
- make producers of EEE responsible for the environmental impact of their products
- improve the environmental performance of all those involved during the lifecycle of EEE
The amount of electrical waste we throw away is increasing by around 5% each year, making it the fastest growing waste stream in the UK. Each year in the UK we go throw away over 1.2 million tonnes of electrical and electronic waste. That is the equivalent of 150 thousand double decker buses or enough to fill the new Wembley 6 times!
This increase is mainly down to:
- new technologies being developed
- affluent society
- throw away lifestyle
Over 75% of waste electrical goods end up in landfill, where lead and other toxins contained in the electrical goods can cause soil and water contamination.
This can have a very harmful effect on natural habitat, wildlife and also human health. When situated near populated areas these toxins can cause problems to communities as their water and soil is polluted.
Many of the electrical items that we throw away can be repaired or recycled. Recycling items helps to save natural finite resources and also reduces the environmental and health risks associated with sending waste electrical goods to landfill.
We all have a responsibility to contributing to the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of WEEE under these Regulations. The Government is obligated to minimise the disposal of WEEE in landfill sites. Producers of electrical and electronic goods are obligated to pay costs associated with recycling any electrical and electronic goods they manufacture or import. People who sell electrical and electronic goods must either join a national recycling scheme or offer a take-back service on a like for like basis. And consumers have a personal responsibility to reduce the impact they have on the environment through their lifestyle.
What can you do?
reuse
If your old machine is still working, do you know somebody who would like to use it? There are many organisations such as schools, clubs, residential homes etc. who would be very happy to have the use of your old equipment.
In addition there are organisations that will reuse and repair electrical and electronic equipment, and some even run "cash for recycling" schemes. Click here http://www.recycle-more.co.uk/nav/page621.aspx) to find a list of waste electrical reuse charities and networks.
recycle
If your old equipment is no longer useful, please recycle it.
Find your nearest waste site
Find licensed waste sites to recycle or dispose of your business waste in your local area.
You can also find information regarding recycling centres (including another lookup service for local recycling centres) at www.recycle-more.co.uk.
Alternatively, as a distributor we are committed to reducing the amount of WEEE that goes in to land fill. We are doing our bit for the environment by offering free take-back on a like for like basis when you purchase a new machine from us. This means if you buy a new cross trainer from us, we will collect your old cross trainer at the same time as the new one is delivered. (Please note we can only do this at the time of delivery and it must be a similar product – e.g. an old exercise bike for a new one, an old step machine for a new one, etc.) This must be booked with the courier company in advance, so if you would like to do this please call us on 01444 253963 to make arrangements.
The WEEE symbol
Electrical and Electronic Equipment that was made after 13th August 2005 should display the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol on the packaging or product. The purpose of the symbol is to encourage householders to dispose of their WEEE separately from household waste.
