EC proposes tougher WEEE regulations to boost recycling
19/03/2009
The European Commission (EC) has revealed that it hopes to revise the waste electrical and electronic waste (WEEE) directive to increase its impact.
A review undertaken by the EC has concluded that expectations for improvement to the environment will not be achieved at current WEEE recycling rates. Therefore, it wants to identify new targets for collection and recovery of WEEE.
Currently, only a third of WEEE is treated as it should be and 13% is still ending up in landfill. Both EU and non-EU countries are at risk from the damage untreated toxic waste can do to the environment and to humans.
The EC proposes that collection targets need to be changed, from the current 4kg/capita, to varying targets for different EU member states. Member states are also to be given the chance to make producers responsible for funding collections under the proposals.
Re-using and recycling targets should also be revised, says the EC. These targets should be environmentally and socially viable and should encourage re-using.
Another change will be to ‘harmonise’ the reporting and registration regulations for electrical goods producers in order to save money.
A review undertaken by the EC has concluded that expectations for improvement to the environment will not be achieved at current WEEE recycling rates. Therefore, it wants to identify new targets for collection and recovery of WEEE.
Currently, only a third of WEEE is treated as it should be and 13% is still ending up in landfill. Both EU and non-EU countries are at risk from the damage untreated toxic waste can do to the environment and to humans.
The EC proposes that collection targets need to be changed, from the current 4kg/capita, to varying targets for different EU member states. Member states are also to be given the chance to make producers responsible for funding collections under the proposals.
Re-using and recycling targets should also be revised, says the EC. These targets should be environmentally and socially viable and should encourage re-using.
Another change will be to ‘harmonise’ the reporting and registration regulations for electrical goods producers in order to save money.
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