Brussels, 03/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 3 February, the European Parliament called for high-quality disposal of electrical and electronic waste with reduced red tape for companies. Its first reading of the revised draft directive relating to the recycling of electrical and electronic waste (the EEWD) has been eagerly awaited because agreement was reached under the Belgian Presidency on the separate directive dealing with dangerous chemicals contained in electronic and electrical waste (see EUROPE 10282).
By a large majority (580 to 37 with 22 abstentions), the MEPs set new waste collection, recycling and re-use targets that they hope will remedy the ineffectiveness of EU legislation to date (since introduced in 2004) because only 35% of electrical and electronic waste generated in the EU meets EU reporting and processing requirements. Karl-Heinz Florenz (EPP, Germany), rapporteur on this issue, explains that one cannot go on like this without recycling waste and the EP has sent a strong message to local authorities, manufactures and consumers to get them all to play their part in collecting and recycling waste. He said the EP had also set stricter rules to stop the illegal export of potentially lethal waste to developing countries.
The EP wants member states to collect at least 85% of electrical and electronic waste by 2016, with an interim target for 2012 of 4 kg of electronic waste per inhabitant under existing rules, or the amount of waste collected in 2010 (if higher than 4 kg). The MEPs recommend a 50% to 75% electronic waste recycling target depending on the type of waste and new target of re-using 5% of electronic waste.
They want the directive to apply to all electrical and electronic waste bar a few exceptions like big industrial plant machinery, military vehicles and equipment, and photovoltaic cells from solar panels which have to be recycled by specially qualified staff.
To reduce red tape and cost for business, the MEPs recommend reducing the number of categories of waste and simplifying the registration and reporting requirements.
To clamp down on the illegal export of electronic waste to developing countries that is fraudulently labelled “reusable”, the EP wants tougher export inspections and for the exporter to be made responsible for demonstrating that the goods are genuinely reusable. (A.N./transl.fl)