MEPs back law to make firms pay for recycling of electronic goods

Date: 19/12/02

By Karen Carstens

MEPS have adopted a sweeping directive that will make companies pay for the recycling of the electronic goods they produce.

"We have reached a decision that ensures that a mountain of six million tonnes of electrical waste that accrues annually will be recycled in an environmentally friendly way," said German MEP Karl-Heinz Florenz, the Parliament's rapporteur on the issue, last night (18 December).

By making producers pay for the recycling of their own products for the first time, the directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), provides a "market-oriented instrument" that will pressurise companies to create more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly products, he said.

Due to come into force in two years' time, the new law requires member states to set up collection systems for WEEE.

Four major manufacturers - Braun, Electrolux, HP and Sony - this week announced the creation of a pan-European "takeback platform" for electronic waste. This will be open to other producers.

MEPs also adopted a directive on hazardous substances. "Both directives take the interests of consumers, environmentalists and industry equally into account," said Florenz.

Dutch Green Alexander de Roo said: "Banning the use of two entire families of brominated flame retardants in electrical and electronic equipment is a good first step forward.

"These substances are toxic, are lost from the products during use, persist in the environment and accumulate in our bodies," he added. "Such substances have no place in a sustainable society."

British MEP Chris Davies was also pleased that his amendment on "clever chips" made it through as part of the WEEE directive.

Originally intended to give information to computer users about ink levels in printer cartridges, these electronic devices can send out signals to prevent equipment operating if the cartridges have been refilled or replaced with cheaper alternatives.

"The "clever chips" are now being used for purposes that are both anti-competitive and against the whole spirit of the new law which aims to encourage recycling," said Davies, who is the Liberal Democrats' environment spokesman.

MEPs have adopted a sweeping directive that will make companies pay for the recycling of the electronic goods they produce.