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

the generation of electrical and electronic waste in the first place and secondly on
promoting its reuse. 412 In December 2008 a proposal for revised laws on WEEE was
drafted by the European Commission and one of the main adjustments the
Commission proposes is to set a combined recycling and re-use target. This combined
target would avoid making re-use an unattractive option by needing to meet higher
recycling targets, hence would increase the environmental and social benefits
associated with re-use.
The WEEE Regulations aims to reduce quantities of WEEE disposed of via landfill and
reduce the harmful effects caused by WEEE on health and the environment whilst
conserving natural resources.
19.6.1 Environmental Benefits – Prevention
As regards waste prevention, the main aim of the WEEE policy is to provide the
following key environmental benefits:
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� Reduce the waste produced whilst manufacturing WEEE products as well as
the minimisation of waste produced at the end of the product’s life, both of
which lead to a reduction in WEEE being disposed of to landfill. However no
statistics are currently available in Ireland on if the manufacturing rates of
WEEE.
� Reduce the potential leakage of hazardous materials by controlling the toxicity
of the product and ensuring its safe disposal (includes RoHS). Since July 2006
new EEE cannot, other than the permitted trace levels, contain lead, mercury,
cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE);
� Re-use of old electrical and electronic equipment. In a press statement in
September 2007, the Minister said that: “There is vibrant social economy
activity in refurbishing old electrical and electronic goods’, adding that ‘there
is evidence that perfectly working equipment is being recycled instead of
being diverted for re-use.” The Minister mentioned that his Department is
working with the relevant stakeholders, including the social economy sector in
developing a protocol to promote and facilitate higher levels of reuse. This
Protocol was to be completed by the end of 2007. 413 However, there was no
information available on this protocol at the time of writing. 414 Re-use of WEEE
requires fewer resources and less energy when compared with recycling or the
manufacture of new products from virgin materials.
412 EPA, National Waste Report, 2006,
http://www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/waste/stats/name,24094,en.html
413 Press Release “Recycling Rate for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Continues to Grow”,
28/09/07.
414 We understand from DoEHLG that the protocol is due to be published shortly (as of July 2009).
International Review of Waste Policy: Annexes