WEEE & BATTERIES
eco-design using less toxics and improving recoverability. One of the directive’s aims is to prevent the generation of e-waste, and has changes in electronics design as a way to achieve this. Producers are expected to be made individually responsible for financing the actual costs of collection and treatment of their own products, to stimulate eco-design. A number of member states have not properly transposed the individual producer responsibility provisions of the directive. This means that opportunities to stimulate better design are being missed. We believe that the directive must rectify this, by mandating individual producer responsibility, and providing member states with proper guidance to imple- ment it. Unfortunately, this issue has not really been taken up in current discussions on directive revisions.
Greater volumes needed
Third, more equipment needs to be collected for processing. Collecting more WEEE, and treating it more effectively, is key to improving the environmental performance of the directive and preventing the leakage of e-waste out of the EU. Fourth, there needs to be more reuse of whole appli- ances. We believe that there should be distinct reuse targets, including for whole appliances. The proposed distinct reuse target of 5% is a positive first step, but is not high enough. In our experience, at least three-quarters of computers sent for recovery are fit for reuse.
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Also, it makes more environmental sense to reuse, rather than recycle, functional ICT equipment. Reuse organisations should have priority access to WEEE to select usable items to help increase reuse. Also, consumers need to be made aware that all functional equipment should be reused, and that only non-functional items should be sent for recycling. Fifth, more materials need to be recovered through higher targets and better methods of recovery. Recovery rates should be increased across all WEEE. Also, due to the varying per- formance of member states’ collection and treatment, there needs to be mandatory standards for all collection and treat- ment methods, including reuse. This will help to ensure the health and safety of all actors in the e-waste chain, and to maximise environmental protection.
Finally, policing and enforcement to end dumping and ille- gal trade in e-waste needs to be more effective. Better report- ing, monitoring, control and international cooperation can curb illegal e-waste shipments. To improve collection rates and prevent leakage to substandard treatment in and beyond the EU, member states should compel all e-waste handlers to report collection and treatment volumes.
This will help to create an accurate picture and monitor e-waste flows, and prevent leakage of WEEE to non-EU coun- tries. Member states, aided by producers, need to ensure that inspection and enforcement bodies are properly resourced to allow them to monitor e-waste and prosecute offenders.
Haley Bowcock is environmental advocacy officer at Computer Aid International
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Due to the huge success and demand for the refurbished WEEE Banks we introduced back in December 2009, we have started to manufacture as well as continuing to refurbish these banks to meet the high demand from our customers allowing Local Authorities and recycling Companies to collect WEEE on the Street as well as from Civic Amenity Sites.
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The initial banks were converted out of redundant bottle banks that were over 40 years old. These containers were built to last, so here at UKCM we kept the same design and steel strength knowing the containers we supply to you will stand the test of time and still be out there collecting recyclables for at least another 40 years and more!
If you would like to find out more about these banks and what we can do for you please contact us on
www.ukcontainers.co.uk Freephone 0800 028 1013
April 2011 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 15
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