EU Regulatory Directives - Essay Example

The directive covers ten categories of electronic and electrical equipment which may be sold within the EU and abroad. Townsend (2011, p. 587) illustrates that the compatibilities which electronic and electrical equipment must comply with include designing equipment during the production process in a manner which facilitates reuse, repair, recycling and disassembly. This compatibility is guided by the WEEE’s principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The major goal of the directive is described by Vaisvila and Vaicikonis (2006, p. 43) as the minimization of the disposal of unsorted municipal refuse or waste and thus facilitate the achievement of a separated WEEE collection.

Additionally the directive provides that the management systems within electrical and electronic industries must be designed and organized both in individual basis and collectively so that the directive is not violated by these industries. Hidy, et al. (2011, p. 990) add that apart for provision of recycling and recovery targets, the WEE directives provides that export of electronic and electrical equipment can only be achieved through compliance with the WEEE directive. Furthermore the directive provides that manufacturers of this equipment must take responsibility for the costs associated with the picking of waste from the collection centers and also for the processes of refurbishing the equipment in readiness for reuse or recycling.

Quinnell (2005, p. 71) explains that the large appliances which are used in households such as washing machines and refrigerators are covered by the WEEE directive. Small appliances such as hair dryers, vacuum cleaners and toasters are also provided for. Moreover, IT equipment such as computers and their accessories, calculators and mobile phones are covered by the WEEE directive. The disposal of stereos, radios and TVs are also covered under the consumer equipment category. Other equipment covered by the directive include toys and leisure equipment, lighting equipment, electronic and electrical goods such as saws and drills, medical and monitoring devices and appliances.

Moreover the WEEE directive covers automatic dispensers such as coffee dispensers within its regulations as illustrated by Townsend (2011, p. 605). This means that the manufacture and dealing in these categories of equipment within the European Union must adhere to the WEE directives as it is provided within the European law. Enforcing the WEE Directive within the UK Yoshida and Yoshida (2010, 21) points out that the member states within the European Union are responsible for enforcing the WEEE directive.

This means that the European Union member states are mandated to enforce the directive within their boundaries. Hidy, et al. (2011, p. 994) explain that the enforcement of the directive is achieved through the adoption of effective monitoring and inspection systems. These systems must be implemented by the member countries and thus applied in ensuring that manufactures and exporters of electrical and electronic appliances meet the requirement of the directive. Additionally, the member states of the union are responsible for imposition and execution of penalties on producers and retailers who fail to comply with the legal provisions of the WEEE directive.

WEE Within the USA According to Hristev (2006, p. 62), within the US the enforcement o