International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

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� Ensure that private households are informed of the WEEE take back facilities
available to them and that they are encouraged to participate in the separate
collection of WEEE.
Since 13 August 2005, each local authority must accept household WEEE free of
charge at its civic amenity facilities. Local authorities can no longer charge gate fees
for WEEE. Where appropriate, priority should be given to reuse of the whole
appliance, thereby contributing to waste prevention.
19.2 Policy Context and Reason for Introduction
Many everyday consumer items are classified as electrical and electronic equipment
such as mobile phones, computers, drills, hairdryers, as well as industrial equipment,
medical devices and laboratory equipment. When these items reach their end-of-life
they are defined as WEEE. WEEE is made up of many different materials and
components, some of which are hazardous. The increased consumption of electrical
and electronic equipment, together with a decrease in the average lifespan of
products has resulted in a waste stream that is growing three times faster than the
average waste stream. This growth, together with the presence of several hazardous
substances in many products, has lead to the development of European legislation on
WEEE. Today, citizens are likely to generate between 17 and 20kg of WEEE per
inhabitant per annum
Producers are required to meet various recovery, recycling and reuse targets for
WEEE, calculated based on the weight of equipment collected. 405 There are different
targets for the recovery and recycling of the different categories. For large household
appliances, which include fridges and freezers, the rate of recovery must be at least
80% with component material and substance reuse and recycling a minimum of 75%
by average weight by appliance. For televisions and monitors, the rate of recovery
must be at least 75% and component material and substance reuse and recycling a
minimum of 65% by average weight by appliance. Similar targets apply for other
WEEE items. These targets must be achieved by 31 st December 2008.
Retailers are also responsible for the collection, treatment, and environmentally
sound disposal of WEEE. Thus final users are entitled to return their WEEE free of
charge to retail outlets when a replacement item is also purchased.
The WEEE Directive emerged, and has evolved in the following ways:
• 2005: The EU WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC was transposed into Irish law in
August 2005 by the Waste Management (Waste Electrical and Electronic
Equipment) Regulations 2005.
405 'Producer' means any person who, irrespective of the selling technique used, including by means of
distance communication, manufactures and sells electrical and electronic equipment under his or her
own brand, resells electrical and electronic equipment produced by other suppliers under his or her
own brand, imports/exports electrical and electronic equipment on a professional basis into/from the
State or distributes electrical and electronic equipment from a producer who is deemed not to be
registered under the provisions of article 12(2).
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