WEEE: Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive, requires manufacturers to take electronic equipment back for ‘free’ and to recycle 65 percent of their average weight. The European Union (EU) directive becomes law on August 13, 2005 and is set to take full effect by 2008. WEEE is a recycling “Catch-all” there are no exempt types of equipment and no exemptions for any manufacturers. The legislation is simple and becomes enforceable when the directive becomes law. At that date all covered electronics will need to have provided for the cost of its recycling at the unit’s end of life.

WEEE covers most equipment unless it operates on greater then 1000 volts AC or 1500 volts DC. So what does that mean? Here is an example list:

• Large household appliances
• Small household appliances
• IT and telecommunications equipment
• Consumer electronics
• Lighting
• Electrical and electronic tools
• Toys and leisure items
• Most Medical devices
• Electronic controls
• Monitoring Equipment
• Computers, printers, peripherals
• And many more…

As you can see basically everything that can be covered under the terms ‘Electrical’ or ‘Electronic Equipment’. It is important to note that WEEE covers consumer, business, and industrial electrical and electronic goods. No one is exempt.

Manufacturers will have to provide proof that the financial resource either directly or indirectly will be available to recycle any equipment sold after WEEE becomes law on August 13, 2005. They will also have to clearly label equipment in accordance with the law. As a result all manufacturers who sell in Europe will have to charge more for products sold there regardless of where they are based or manufactured, again no exemptions.

Whatever its mechanics, the legislation will require investment in new processes. Multinational companies or companies that export from the U.S. will find they are spending more time researching and complying with environmental product requirements. Administrative and reporting burdens that will result from the policies will also add significant cost. In addition, several U.S. states (e.g., California, Massachusetts, Washington, and Maine) have introduced or passed similar waste management and material restriction legislation.

*WEEE sometimes gets confused with ROHS. WEEE covers recycling of equipment at the end of life process. ROHS, another EU directive, covers the materials and processes that can be used to manufacture the equipment.

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