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EUROPE:
STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
source:www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/
2002report.htm
www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/
sayno.htm
www.findarticles.com/p/articles/
mi_m0CYQ/is_12_33/ai_95645943
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The European Union has taken the lead on reducing e-waste from electronic products by making producers responsible for taking back their products.
The problem... - e-waste growth is about 3 times higher than that of the other municipal waste streams, and
- it accounts for 6 million tons of garbage across Europe, most of which ends up in landfills.
- The hazardous nature of the products poses significant waste management problems. It seem that the 90% of e-waste* that is land filled, incinerated or recovered without any pre-treatment constitutes an important share of various pollutants found in the municipal waste stream.
...the answer- The 2002 EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directives, require the elimination of certain hazardous materials and set standards for producer responsibility for recycling and take-back: businesses will have to organise and finance the treatment, recovery and disposal of 60% to 80% of their own waste, depending on the type of product they put on the market.
* This does not include the old computers that are in ‘temporary’ storage in people’s garages, basements, etc.
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