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Take-Back Laws Taken On by 13 Countries
By Rob Spiegel -- Electronic News, 10/26/2005
Take-back laws are beginning to take hold. Thirteen countries have passed rules governing the disposal of electronic products, according to research from Premier Farnell plc., a London-based distributor that worked with a third-party research organization to survey countries worldwide.
The breakdown of global electronic product disposal laws, country-by-country, is as follows:
1. Austria: The Lamp Ordinance and Batteries Take-Back Law has been in affect for some time. Take-back obligation applies to batteries, refrigerators and fluorescent tubes. The country has also adopted the European Union’s (EU) Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directives into Austrian law. A new Electro Ordinance (EAG-Verordnung) superseded the Lamp Ordinance on August 13 of this year.
2. Belgium: The WEEE decree (VLAREA Ordinance) applies in Flanders and the Producer Responsibility Decree in Wallonia and Brussels. Producers finance recovery organizations, including RECUPEL and BEBAT.
3. Denmark: Local authorities are responsible for the cost of collecting AV and IT equipment, telecommunications equipment, monitoring, medical and lab equipment from households and commercial or industrial premises with collection fees on businesses.
4. Italy: End-of-life household appliances such as fridges, freezers, TVs, PCs, washing machines and dishwashers will be consigned to a recognized collector. Mandatory deposits are required if the voluntary approach fails with producers holding responsibility.
5. The Netherlands: Manufacturers of white and brown goods are to reprocess all end-of-life equipment; retailers are to take back when selling replacement items; and local authorities are to manage collection systems. Regulations include bans on land filling or incineration of WEEE products, and a ban in trade of refrigeration equipment containing CFCs. Manufacturers and importers pay fees to collection organizations for all electrical and electronic equipment, except computers and related telecom equipment.
6. Norway: The regulations cover home appliances, computers, telecoms and office equipment. Take-back obligation applies to both new and already-sold products with importers paying fees to collection organizations.
7. Portugal: The country’s decree was adopted in September 2004. Producers fund disposal and are setting up a take-back organization to be called Amb3E.
8. Spain: Law passed in October 1998 and deals with collection and disposal of waste products. Producers are to directly manage waste derived from their products, participate in an organized waste management system or fund public waste management costs. The industry has established a number of take-back initiatives.
9. Sweden: The current law requires collection of old refrigerators. Retailers or distributors take back all other WEEE products. Municipalities and manufacturers are responsible for the costs. El-Kretsen runs the El-Retur system jointly with local government and also operates a recovery system for ICT products.
10. Switzerland: The current system covers almost all electrical and electronic equipment except some computer equipment. Take back applies to all products regardless of when they were bought. Collecting fees called SWICO are paid for by consumers and producers.
11. Japan: The Home Appliances Recycling Law took effect in April 2001. PCs and rechargeable batteries fall under the Law for Promotion of Effective Utilization of Recyclable Resources. Manufacturers include costs in their prices. Consumers pay fees when they take back.
12. South Korea: The EPRS Law of 2003 requires that consumers can bring back like items free; if not buying new, they must pay a sticker fee. Manufacturers must take back A/C, TVs, computers, peripherals, lamps and cell phones in 2005. The industry is to either establish a collection organization or pay a government tax.
13. Taiwan: The current system covers end-of-life computers, printers, and major appliances such as TVs, fridges, washing machines and air conditioners. Electronics recovery has been required since March 1998. The government requires fees on covered electronics in parts and on the appliances. An industry collection system has been formed.
Australia and China soon will issue rules, too, according to the joint research.
At the end of September, 20 of the 25 EU member states had transposed the WEEE Directive into their national laws. They are as follows: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
The remaining countries without WEEE directive transposed as of late September are Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Malta and the United Kingdom.
