Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

The UK currently produces around 1 million tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) each year and it is suggested that this figure may double over the next 15 years. WEEE is one of the fastest growing waste streams and is increasing at a rate three times that of average municipal waste growth. The increase in disposal of WEEE relates to a number of factors including the general increase in use of electronic and electrical equipment, the frequent upgrading of equipment and, in some cases, the relatively high cost of repair compared to the purchase of new equipment.

The European Commission has identified a number of environmental concerns which arise from the production and disposal of electronic and electrical equipment (EEE). First, it is believed that the environmental impact of producing electrical and electronic equipment is often greater than that used to produce other constituents of the municipal waste stream. Secondly, the increasing volumes and varied nature of WEEE is difficult to dispose of. Most is discarded in landfill sites but many of these sites have limited space available in the long term. Finally, WEEE contains significant amounts of heavy metals and halogenated substances which, once disposed of through landfill or incineration, may present hazards to public health and the environment.

The disposal of WEEE also represents the loss of large amounts of valuable resources, in particular metals and plastics. If these were to be recycled it would not only divert the waste from disposal but would also reduce the need to use virgin raw materials.

In order to address these problems, the EC has introduced two Directives:

• EC Directive on Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (2002/96/EC)
• EC Directive on the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) (2002/95/EC)