The European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) applies to a wide range of electronic and electrical products. WEEE encourages the collection, treatment, recycling and recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment. WEEE makes producers responsible for financing most of these activities.

From 1st July 2006, new electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market in the EU shall not contain:

• Lead (Pb)


• Mercury (Hg)


• Cadmium (Cd)


• Hexavalent chromium ( Cr 6+, Cr [VI] )


• Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)


• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

...and more.

Who does it affect?
Those involved in manufacturing, selling, distributing, recycling or treating electrical and electronic equipment. This includes:

• Household appliances


• IT and telecommunications equipment


• Audiovisual and lighting equipment


• Electrical and electronic tools


• Toys, leisure and sports equipment


• Medical devices and


• Automatic dispensers.

Purpose
The Directive aims to:

• Reduce the waste arising from electrical and electronic equipment; and


• Improve the environmental performance of all those involved in the life cycle of electrical and electronic products.

Key elements
The Directive covers WEEE used by consumers and for professional purposes.

By 13 August 2005: (Europe)

• Private householders will be able to return their WEEE to collection facilities free of charge;
  
• Producers (manufacturers, sellers, distributors) will be responsible for financing the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of WEEE from private households deposited at these collection facilities;


• Producers will be responsible for financing the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of WEEE from users other than private householders from products placed on the market after 13 August 2005; and


• Producers will also be responsible for financing the management of WEEE from products placed on the market before 13 August 2005. However, it may be possible for all or part of these costs to be recovered from users other than private householders.

By 31 December 2006 (Europe)

• Producers will be required to achieve a series of demanding recycling and recovery targets for different categories of appliance; and
  
• The UK must have reached an average WEEE collection rate of four kilograms for each private householder annually.

Is the legislation global?
While the implementation deadlines form part of EU legislation, the need to comply will evolve globally. Japanese manufacturers have been reducing lead levels for 3 or 4 years and, in the USA, California has already passed legislation to fall approximately in line with the EU timescales. It is unlikely that electronics manufacturers will make "lead free" components for Europe and lead-based components for the rest of the world.