On 12 May 2011 the Bath Branch held a lively meeting at the Bath Spa Hotel at which Simon Drury, representing WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), gave a presentation on the Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment Regulations (WEEE). Simon's presentation really engaged with the members present and a lively evening was finished off with a practical demonstartion as participants were invited to dismantle common household items (and electric kettle and a desktop fan) to try to see how their design could be imporved to make their eventual recycling easier and more complete.
2. Introduction to WRAP – Waste & Resources Action Programme
WRAP helps businesses and individuals reap the benefits of reducing waste, developing
sustainable products and using resources in an efficient way.
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Our three targets for 2008‐2011 are:
8 million tonnes less waste to landfill.
5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions saved.
£1.1 billion of economic benefits.
4. Environmental legislation
A small sample
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Environmental Protection Act Oil Storage Regulations
Environment Act Household Waste Recycling Act
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Landfill Regulations Anti Pollution Works
Anti Pollution Works
Regulations
Water Resources Act
End of Life Vehicles Regulations
Water Industries Act
Water Industries Act
Environmental Information
Groundwater Regulations Regulations
Contaminated Land Regime
C t i t dL dR i Waste and Emissions Trading Act
Landfill Regulations Hazardous Waste Regulations
Environmental Impact The Clean Neighbourhoods and
Assessment Regulations Environment Act
6. Why is WEEE important?
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1.5m tonnes of (WEEE) were put onto the market last year.
550,000 tonnes was collected for recycling
WEEE is increasing at a rate three times that of average
municipal waste growth.
The increase of WEEE relates to a number of factors:
General increase in use of electronic and electrical equipment.
Frequent upgrading of equipment.
Relatively high cost of repair compared to the p
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8. What are the objectives of the Directive ?
The WEEE Directive has 3 main Objectives:
1. The prevention of the generation of Waste Electronic and Electrical
Equipment.
2. The drive markets for the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of
such wastes.
3.
3 Minimising the environment risks and impacts associated with the
treatment and disposal of end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment.
13. Distributors
A distributor, (irrespective of selling technique), for the purposes
of the WEEE Regulations is:
of the WEEE Regulations is:
a retailer of new EEE for use in households; or
A wholesaler of new EEE for use in households.
A wholesaler of new EEE for use in households
All distributors selling new EEE for use in households have
obligations under the Regulations.
bli i d h R l i
to provide a like for like take‐back service to householders
enabling them to return their WEEE free of charge.
enabling them to return their WEEE free of charge
Enforced is by the VCA .
Help for businesses from :
http://www.wrap.org.uk/retail_supply_chain/research_to
ols/tools/weee_toolkit_guide.html
14. Distributors
The WEEE Regulations allow a choice of providing;
An “in‐store” take‐back, participating in the Distributor Take‐back Scheme
(DTS),
An alternative system for free take‐back for householders.
A lt ti t f f t k b kf h h ld
A further obligation placed on distributors is to provide householders with
information on the options that are available to them for the free return of
information on the options that are available to them for the free return of
their WEEE and on the environmental benefits resulting from its separate
collection.
Information made available to customers must be
retained by distributors for four years.
17. Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities (AATF) or
Approved Exporter (AE)
Approved Exporter (AE)
AATFs and AEs deal with separately collected non‐household WEEE.
AATFs and AEs also deal with household WEEE arising at DCFs or on behalf of
AATFs and AEs also deal with household WEEE arising at DCFs or on behalf of
Producer Compliance Schemes (PCSs).
AATFs and AEs can issue evidence that WEEE has been received and will be treated to
the requirements of the Regulations.
Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) with the appropriate permits or exemptions
should work with AATFs to treat WEEE to the standards of the WEEE Regulations and
should work with AATFs to treat WEEE to the standards of the WEEE Regulations and
in accordance with the UK’s WEEE Treatment Guidance.
18. What does WEEE consist of ?
Ferrous Meta
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Non‐Ferrous Metal
Rare earth elements
Plastics.
Printed circuit boards. (PCBs)
Batteries.
Capacitors.
Liquid crystal displays.
Cathode ray tubes.
Cathode ray tubes
Mercury switches.
Florescent lamps
20. 10 indicative categories
10 indicative categories
1. Large household appliances
2. Small household appliances
3. IT and telecoms equipment
4. Consumer equipment
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5. Lighting equipment
6. Electrical and electronic tools
7.
7 Toys, leisure & sports
Toys leisure & sports
8. Medical devices *
9. Monitoring devices *
10. Auto‐dispensing machines
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* Exempt from RoHS requirements for now currently being reviewed
22. EEE Categories‐Small Appliances
Vacuum Cleaners Scales
Sweepers Electric Knives
Irons Body Care Appliances
Body Care Appliances
Toasters Coffee Machines
Sewing/Knitting Package Sealers
Package Sealers
Grinders Clocks/Watches
Hair Cutting/Shaving
Hair Cutting/Shaving Fryers
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23. EEE Categories‐ITE Telecom
Central Data Processing Laptops
Computers Peripherals
Printers Products Used to Transmit
Sound, images, or other
Typewriters
i Information by
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Calculators ( Pocket) Telecommunications
User Terminals/Systems
User Terminals/Systems Equipment for Collection,
Storage, Processing,
Faxes Presentation or
Answering Machines
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information by Electronic
information by Electronic
Cell Phones Means
24. EEE Categories‐Consumer Equipment
Televisions Equipment for Recording,
Radios Reproducing Sound or
Video Players/Recorders Images, Including Signals
or Other Technology, for
or Other Technology for
Video Cameras the Distribution of Sound
Amplifiers and Images other than
and Images other than
Musical Instruments Telecommunications
25. EEE Categories‐Lighting Equipment
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Non‐household Lighting Equipment for
Luminaries for Fluorescent Purpose of Spreading
Lamps or Controlling Lights
Fluorescent Lamps
Fl L with the Exception of
with the Exception of
Sodium Lamps Filament bulbs
Discharge Lamps
Metal Halide Lamps
29. EEE Categories‐ Automatic Dispensers
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Automatic Hot Drink Dispensers
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Automatic Hot/Cold Bottles or Cans Dispensers
Automatic Dispensers for Solid Products
Automatic Dispensers for Money
Any Appliance That Automatically
Delivers Any Kinds of Products
Delivers Any Kinds of Products
30. What is not covered?
at s ot co e ed
However, a number of general and specific exemptions
exist:
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A general exemption exists for equipment operating at more than 1000V
AC and 1500V DC
Specific exemptions exist for:
Products intended specifically to protect national security and for a military
purpose
Filament light bulbs and household luminaires
Large scale stationary industrial tools
31. What items are covered by WEEE?
What items are covered by WEEE?
• Specific exemptions exist for:
Specific exemptions exist for:
Implanted medical equipment and infected medical
equipment,
equipment
Products where electrical and electronic components are
not needed to perform the primary function,
Electrical and electronic equipment which is part of
another type of equipment or a fixed installation,
The has produced guidance on the WEEE regulation at
www.environment‐agency.gov.uk/business/topics/waste/32084.aspx
BIS has produce a guidance which can be found at
www.bis.gov.uk/files/file54145.pdf
www bis gov uk/files/file54145 pdf
The European Commission’s FAQs document on the scope of the WEEE Directive might
be helpful and can be downloaded from:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/pdf/faq_weee.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee/index_en.htm
32. Targets
Category Description Recovery Recycling
1 large household appliances 80% 75%
2 small household appliances 70% 50%
3 IT and telecoms equipment 75% 65%
4 consumer equipment 75% 65%
5 lighting equipment 70% 50%
6 electrical and electronic tools 70% 50%
7 toys l
leisure & sports 70% 50%
8 medical devices No target No target
9 monitoring devices 70% 50%
auto-dispensing machines
10 (vending machines, cash 80% 75%
machines, ticket machines).
Gas discharge lamps, 80% 80%
33. Producer Compliance Schemes
Producer Compliance Schemes
All producers putting EEE onto the UK market are required to
join a PCS.
j i PCS
By offering administrative and practical services to producer
members PCSs help them discharge their obligations under
b PCS h l th di h th i bli ti d
the Regulations. Their services should include;
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registering producers with the appropriate UK
authorities,
meeting the data reporting requirements, and
Arranging clearance of household WEEE from DCFs and
/or non‐household WEEE to AATFs or AEs.
38. The WEEE 2010 Changes
The WEEE 2010 Changes
The Changes are designed to,
Ensure producer compliance schemes continue to take an active role in the
environmentally sound disposal of unwanted equipment.
To reduce the administrative burdens placed on the treatment sector.
To reduce the administrative burdens placed on the treatment sector
Distributor Take‐back Scheme (DTS) to Continue for a further three compliance
periods.
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Under DTS Phase 2,
Distributors can still discharge their obligations by paying into the scheme
39. The WEEE 2010 Changes
The WEEE 2010 Changes
Key revisions in the amended regulations are:
Producer Compliance Scheme approval process. From 1 January 2010
Any scheme applying for approval will be subject to open ended approval based
on a rolling three year operational plan which will be subject to an annual
on a rolling three year operational plan which will be subject to an annual
review and audit by the environment agencies.
Criteria for Authorised Treatment Facilities (AATFs) and exporters (AEs) approval has
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been revised to include a requirement that the facility is able to meet the
reprocessing targets contained in the Regulations and Directive.
40. The WEEE 2010 Changes cont d.
The WEEE 2010 Changes cont’d.
Key revisions in the amended regulations are:
Streamlining of the Evidence process. AATF or AE will now issue evidence on the
tonnage of WEEE received. This will help to speed the flow of evidence through
the system and ease cash flow issues for AATF and AEs.
Data reporting. Changes have been made to the requirements for PCSs, AATF’s
and AEs to ease administration burdens and provide the agencies with more
focused and relevant data.
41. The WEEE 2010 Changes
The WEEE 2010 Changes
Key features of the Distributor Take‐back Scheme (DTS) Phase 2 are:
The scheme is to operate from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012.
Membership fees charged to distributors proportionate to their total market share
Membership fees charged to distributors proportionate to their total market share
of all EEE retailing.
42. The WEEE 2010 Changes cont d.
The WEEE 2010 Changes cont’d.
Key features of the DTS Phase 2 are:
A separate New Investment Fund to support establishment of new / replacement
designated collection facilities at civic amenity sites or to add additional WEEE
waste streams to existing sites.
Valpak Retail Services Ltd has been appointed to continue to operate the Scheme.
43. The WEEE Recast
The WEEE Recast
Key changes may include;
Moving away from a weight per person of a percentage of the average
weight target based on previous year EEE sales per country.
Targets of 45%, then 65%of EEE P.O.M., then 85% of all WEEE are being
45% PO M
put forward.
Widening the scope of the WEEE Directive to ensure more electrical
equipment i captured given the scope exemptions li d at present.
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Remember this will take some time to be transposed into UK law.
44. The WEEE Recast cont d.
The WEEE Recast cont’d.
Key changes may include;
Single WEEE compliance scheme registration option for the whole of
Europe. This appears to have been knocked into the long grass.
Producers and retailers could be made responsible for funding the
collection of WEEE from households.
There may also be a greater emphasis on managing individual Producers’
duty of care.
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All of this could prove costly to Producers.
45. Duty of Care
Producers are required to manager the Duty of Care. To
ensure
their products are recycled in an environmental manner
their recycling partners have the appropriate “know how”,
accreditations and waste management licences.
This includes exported WEEE.
Reuse and resale are to be encouraged.
Reuse and resale are to be encouraged
46. Duty of Care
What to look for
Audit trails, environmental and financial are just as important.
ISO 9001 2000 & 14001 are important.
Defined process flows.
Recording of reporting of data.
EMS information so P/Is can report back WEEE information.
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Experienced electronics recyclers have good working knowledge of
legislation, hazards etc.
48. WEEE Standard PAS141
WEEE Standard PAS141
The main aims of PAS 141 are to:
Encourage the reuse of WEEE as promoted by the WEEE Directive (2002/96/EC),
Article 1
Reduce the amount of WEEE sent to landfill and incineration by diverting WEEE to
be prepared for reuse
Provide a framework for assuring manufacturers that the placing of products on
P id f kf i f t th t th l i f d t
the market for reuse will not adversely affect their brands or reputations for safety
and quality
49. WEEE Standard PAS141 cont d.
WEEE Standard PAS141 cont’d.
The main aims of PAS 141 are to:
Deter the illegal export of WEEE under the guise of sham reuse
Encourage job creation in organizations involved in preparing WEEE and UEEE for
reuse.
This standard does not cover:
The manufacturing of new equipment;
The recycling/other recovery or disposal of equipment (although it does include
requirements for assigning WEEE for recycling/other recovery).
51. The waste hierarchy
Prevention
Preparing for reuse
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Recycling
Other recovery
Disposal
52. Waste hierarchy options for WEEE
Prevention
Retain and use items for longer.
Sell or donate unwanted items.
Sell or donate unwanted items
Purchase second‐hand items.
Lease rather than purchase electrical equipment.
Preparing for reuse
Arrange for WEEE to be collected and refurbished and/or resold.
Arrange for WEEE to be collected and refurbished and/or resold
There is a thriving market for reconditioned large appliances and IT equipment.
53. Waste hierarchy options for WEEE
Recycling
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Segregate and arrange recycling of all WEEE.
Other recovery
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Ensure that your WEEE contractor is reputable and removes recyclable components from
WEEE before sending the residual combustible waste for energy recovery.
Disposal
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Only dispose of any residual waste from WEEE that cannot be reused, recycled or
recovered.
Ensure you follow your duty of care responsibilities to manage waste correctly to enable
its safe recovery or disposal without harming the environment.7
54. Case Study
Case Study
Varian Medical Systems opted for the sustainable redesign of its radiotherapy
simulator collimator unit and is now achieving;
£162,000/year in components and materials cost savings
a 65% reduction in the number of components used per collimator,
a reduction of 29% in the number of fasteners, and
a reduction of 29% in the number of fasteners and
a 27% reduction in assembly time, and easier equipment disassembly for
recovery and recycling.
“The sustainable product design approach has proved to be a real eye‐opener,
taking away preconceptions and resulting in products with significant cost savings
and better functionality.”
John Peel, Business Development Director, Varian Medical Systems UK Ltd.