Press Release

E-waste ambitions on a slow climb

19th January 2012

The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) welcomed the new, improved directive on electrical and electronic waste (WEEE) after the European Parliament today rubberstamped a deal with the Council. However the group was concerned that too many improvements were left to future revisions.

Under the new law, a new ambitious collection target has been agreed, ‘the scope’ will be opened in six years meaning the directive can be applied to more general products, waste management standards have been clarified and there will be a chance to address nanomaterials contained in electronic waste.

EEB was particularly outraged by the opening of a clause which allows the shipment of defective and untested items to developing countries under ‘reuse status’, escaping waste shipment rules. These appliances often contain hazardous substances which the destination countries are often ill-equipped to deal with. Other loopholes were also left open.

The green group was also disappointed that many electrical and electronic waste management proposals have been watered down and the collection target deadlines, although ambitious, have been pushed back from 2016 to 2020.

“Collection targets have been delayed and the introduction of economic instruments for greener design, reuse targets and ambitious recycling targets have been left to a future revision, which is a bitter blow to the environment and Europe’s economic development,” said EEB’s Stephane Arditi.

EEB is concerned that under the new law retailers will continue to escape their responsibility for a better WEEE management. The group said only a few of the largest retailers are being asked to collect the smallest of appliances without requiring consumers to purchase an equivalent new product, while the rest have to do little or nothing to support consumers in waste disposal.

“Once more we can see a huge inconsistency between the political rhetoric about resource efficiency and job creation. In the end it will be the environment as well as European citizens and industry that will suffer from this lack of courage and consistency,” added Stephane Arditi.

Stephane Arditi, Senior Policy Officer Products & Waste, Tel: +32 (0) 2289 10 97