Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive
Introduction
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, WEEE), 2002/96/EC, is a law in force since August 13, 2005 throughout the European Union. It aims to promote recycling, reuse and recovery of waste from this equipment to reduce its pollution.
Directive 2002/96/EC was replaced by Directive 2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Justification and Objective
The massive global proliferation of electronic equipment has taken place without developing, at the same pace, safe strategies for action on the waste that is generated when these devices become outdated or become simple scrap metal. The result is mountains of toxic waste that degrade the environment and public health. When the WEEE appears, it seeks to establish legislation for the treatment of this waste.
The WEEE Directive, in application of the "polluter pays" principle, makes producers responsible for assuming these costs of managing the waste generated, even if this means paying a recycling fee by the consumer when purchasing the electrical or electronic product.
If the manufacturer is obliged to assume these costs at the end of the product's life cycle, this forces him to rethink the design stage in order to adapt it to waste management requirements and thus reduce these subsequent costs. In this initial stage, a complementary directive will intervene, the RoHS, and in the final stage, the WEEE. As the objective of RoHS is the reduction of hazardous substances used in manufacturing, its application reduces the risks of waste treatment, requiring fewer handling precautions.
Given that the collection objectives are considered insufficient, and also with the aim of reducing the administrative burden posed by this Directive and clarifying some conflicting points, it is being recast. The new Directive is expected to be completed during 2011.
Symbol
The symbol consists of a crossed out trash can with a black band below, all its characteristics and dimensions are given in the UNE-EN 50419 standard.