Dangers still lurk inside our gadgets

Waste from electronic appliances, gadgets and gizmos is a growing problem.

In the EU, each individual is responsible for producing between one and 20 kilogrammes of waste electric and electronic equipment per year, according to European Commission figures. The volume of waste is estimated to be increasing by 3-5% per year.

As Christmas approaches, consumers are preparing for their annual electronics binge, which in turn will see replaced watches, blenders, TVs, computers and toys destined for waste.

The 2002 directive on waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) makes the producer responsible for taking back and recycling electrical and electronic equipment. The 2002 directive on the restriction of the use of hazardous substances (RoHS) bans the use of certain materials in electronic equipment, such as laptops and computers.

For instance, lung-damaging cadmium is found in cables, connectors and batteries, and brain-damaging mercury was used in LCD displays.

Both directives should have been transposed in EU15 countries three years ago.

New member states were given a two-year extension. But not all member states have yet transposed these EU rules on electronic waste into national law. The WEEE directive has yet to be transposed by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. RoHS has yet to be transposed by Belgium, Denmark, Lithuania, Malta, Finland and Sweden. All laggards received warning letters from the Commission last month.

Waste from electronic appliances, gadgets and gizmos is a growing problem.