The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive - Essay Example

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive The WEEE directive is a European Community requirement which regulates the disposal of electronic and electrical waste. The directive which was enacted into the European legal system in 2003 is very broad in coverage and perspective. This directive covers all electronic and electrical equipment whether is used professionally or by ordinary consumers as explained by Quinnell (2005, p. 72). These equipments are covered by the WEEE directive because they are likely to end in the waste stream of the municipal council. 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 of the WEEE directive follows the principle of producer responsibility. This means that the US government mandates the manufacturers of electronic and electrical equipment to take responsibility for the adherence to the WEEE directive. Producer responsibility within the WEEE directive concept is defined by Townsend (2011, p. 589) as the policy which ensures that manufacturers and importers of electronic and electrical equipment are responsible for the any environmental impacts that their equipment may cause. In the US, the government ensures that the manufacturers and exporters of appliances which are covered by the WEEE directive are responsible for all processes within the production and export life cycles of these products. Hristev (2006, p. 70)explains that the selection of raw materials for manufacture, the environmental impacts of the manufacturing process, use and disposal of electrical and electronic appliances is the responsibility of the producers concerned. Therefore legal, economic and physical responsibility must be taken by producers in the design of equipment so that environmental impacts are eliminated or minimized much as possible. Role of EU Directives in Technical Issues The European Union is responsible for providing a standardized legal framework and policies within the union as explained by Vaisvila and Vaicikonis (2006, p. 45). This makes it the most significant force for the implementation of technical issues because manufactures may produce equipment with an aim of maximizing profit at the expense of the environment. The standardization of the manufacturing process for electronic and electrical issues is made possible through the EU because of the diversity of manufactures of these appliances within the union. The technicalities which are involved in the manufacture, exportation, use and disposal of technical equipment are thus regulated and implemented through a common legal framework which ensures that all member states comply with the directives. References Hidy, G, et al. 2011, 'Environmental Issues and Management Strategies for Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment', Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, 61, 10, pp. 990-995 Hristev, I. 2006, 'RoHS and WEEE: The New European Directives: Do They Work and Why (Or Why Not)? Current Application and Development in the EU and USA', European Environmental Law Review, 15, 3, pp. 62-74 Quinnell, R. A. 2005, "WEEE: No fun for manufacturers", Test and Measurement World, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 71-72. Townsend, T. G 2011, 'Environmental Issues and Management Strategies for Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment', Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, 61, 6, pp. 587-610 Vaisvila, A, and Vaicikonis, E 2006, 'The problems of Implementation of the European Union Directives for Electrical and Electronic Equipment Hazardousness', Engineering Economics, 48, 3, pp. 43-49 Yoshida, F, and Yoshida, H 2010, 'Japan, the European Union, and Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment Recycling: Key Lessons Learned', Environmental Engineering Science, 27, 1, pp. 21-28 Read More