FREE VB COURSE - Index of
FREE VB COURSE - Index of
FREE VB COURSE - Index of
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
TECHNOLOGY LEGISLATION<br />
22<br />
The Battle against<br />
Electronic Waste<br />
Protecting the environment with RoHS and WEEE<br />
Jens Nickel<br />
The EU has taken two<br />
significant steps in the<br />
fight against toxic electronic<br />
waste. In this article<br />
we look at what ‘RoHS’<br />
and ‘WEEE’ mean for<br />
equipment manufacturers,<br />
distributors and users.<br />
‘WEEE man’ was assembled by a London<br />
designer from the appliances thrown away by<br />
the average British citizen during his lifetime.<br />
Source: www.weeeman.org<br />
All electrically-powered devices, from washing machines<br />
and PCs to electric toothbrushes, eventually come to the<br />
end <strong>of</strong> their useful life. Until now, most have then ended<br />
up as household side waste or have been fly-tipped. This<br />
makes for an immense burden on the environment: the<br />
quantity <strong>of</strong> electronic waste is estimated to be growing<br />
three times faster than that <strong>of</strong> other household waste: one<br />
only needs to think <strong>of</strong> how many PCs, hard drives and<br />
printers one has ever owned. Germany, for example, has<br />
produced two million tonnes <strong>of</strong> electronic waste this year:<br />
taking all the countries <strong>of</strong> the EU together, the total is over<br />
six million tonnes. Furthermore, many electronic devices<br />
also contain toxins such as lead, mercury or cadmium.<br />
Since electronic components are <strong>of</strong>ten imported and<br />
elektor electronics - 1/2006
Change language