[GreenYes] WEEE Directive information

[Ted Smith <tsmith@svtc.org>]

Below is a memo from Elena Lymberidi of the European
Environmental Burean in Brussels that describes some of the important
provisions in the WEEE and ROHS directives that just passed the 1st
Reading in the European Parliament.  This is very good news for
Europe and for us (it looks like with some concerns -- see the end of her
memo -- the loop hole for incineration may actually be quite a
problem)

Ted


Subject: WEEE and ROHS plenary 1st reading outcome
Dear all, 
Today was the Plenary vote on the WEEE and ROHS directive, 1st Reading
in Strasbourg. 
The result overall is very positive. There are some points where it 
could have been stronger but it is definetely a great step forward!
On the different points 
On WEEE: 
? A new amendment got adopted making individual producer responsibility
for future waste stronger since now Producers can go for a collective
model only after request to the Commission and therefore the whole 
issue will be more transparent and the reasons to avoid individual 
responsibility will be examined. 
? For historical waste it is clear that producers will be responsible
proportionately according to market share and therefore through a 
collective model. Financial responsibility starts 30 months after 
adoption of the directive instead of 5 years which was the commission
proposal. 
? Existing systems are allowed to operate for max 10 years as they are
and producers are allowed to show the management cost of the historical
waste to consumers when they buy a new product 
? All WEEE must be collected separately and not disposed of together
with municipal waste; 
? A legally binding collection target of 6kg per capita per year is the
minimum; 
? The recovery, reuse and recycling targets have been extended to all
product categories and have been strengthened to further promote design
for the environment and resource efficiency thinking; All kinds of 
lighting are now covered and also targets have been added for this 
category! 
Furthermore there is now a requirement in the annex that as a minimum
5% of the plastic componenets of WEEE by weight should be recycled. 
On top reuse is being promoted by ensureing that monitoring systems 
are in place and by not including reuse of whole appliances in the 
recycling targets. 
? Penalty procedures should now been set by the MS in case of breach of
the directive and the directive will be linked to the national 
management plans.
With respect to the required third directive , the initial recital that
this directive whould be a New Approach directive has now been dropped
and the initially adopted to the env com amendment was also adopted by
the plenary. It now mentions that a directive is needed on the design
and manufacture of EEE and that MS should encourage the design adn 
production of EEE taking into accound recyclability, repairability
etc.
Inspection adn monitoring systems will be set up to ensure the proper
implemnentation of the directive and also that appliances for reused
are really being reused (in or outside the EU)
In case the annexes need to change, all stakeholders should participate
in the comitology procedure including environment, consumer, employees
abd industry organisations
Reports on the implementation from the MS will be put onthe
internet.
Negative parts are: 
We lost the depositī-refund system which is now not even mentioned in
the recitals, on the responsibility there is still space to go for 
collective system for future waste but it is now becoming more 
difficult, existing systems are given too much time (10 years) to 
adjust to the new requirements, adn producers are allowed to show the
cost, meaning that there is no clear internalisation of the costs! 
There is now an addition inthe annex II which can open the door for 
incineration against the waste hierarchy since it is mentioned that 
WEEE will be treated using methods which ensure that the overall impact
on the environment is less than the selective treatment methods set out
in this Annex.(..they still have to meet the targets though )

On ROHS 
The phase out was not extended to all Halogentated flame retardants but
the date for phase out was brough forward to 2006. 
Instead of the phase out we got some amenmdents regarding the review
according to which the scope of phase outs hsoudl expand inthe future
and particular attention should be given to all HFR, PVC and HFCs used
in EEE. It was also adopted that substances can be ADDED (only 
added!!!) 
to article 4 of the directive according to comitology procedure!!!!All
stakeholders participate in the committee for the comitology procedure.
Very positive is also the fact that the committee responsible for the
review of the annex in the ROHS directive still remains under the 
responsibility of DG Environment. 
Provisions for penalties have also been added.
Exemptions have extended to also include Lead in high melting 
temperature type solder, lead in glass in electronic components, led in
piezoelectronic devices and Lead in servers, storage and storage array
systems, voice and data transmission and networking equipment .

That`s it for now. 
Please let me know if you need more info. 
Regards 
Elena

Ted Smith

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition

Campaign for Responsible Technology

760 N. First Street

San Jose, CA 95112

408-287-6707-phone

408-287-6771-fax

tsmith@igc.org

http://www.svtc.org/svtc/

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Food for thought:

How Gandhi Defined the Seven Deadly Sins

· Wealth without work

· Pleasure without conscience

· Knowledge without character

· Commerce without morality

· Science without humanity

· Worship without sacrifice

· Politics without principle