The Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) Background and Overview. Conference on Metal Recycling Tokyo, 28 October 2009

Transcription

1 The Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) Background and Overview Conference on Metal Recycling Tokyo, 28 October 2009 Thorsten Brunzema European Commission DG Environment INDEX Motivation to establish the WEEE Directive The current WEEE Directive elements, operation, financing The proposal for a new WEEE Directive outlook 2

2 EEE SOLD WITH STRONG GROWTH: e.g. COMPUTER EQUIPMENT Million units sold in EU Desktops Laptops Cathode ray monitors Flat panel monitors Source: WEEE estimated today in the EU27 at up to 9 million tonnes per year, estimated to rise to 12 million by GROWING WEEE STREAM CREATES THREE ISSUES Unregulated collection can lead to littering or landfill Release of hazardous substances from WEEE (e.g. CFCs, heavy metals, flame retardents) EEE are resource-intensive products, therefore WEEE is a source of value WEEE Directive to deal with all three issues 4

3 ELECTRONICS PRODUCTS WITH HIGH IMPACT ON WORLDWIDE METALS DEMAND... Source: Umicore recycled, potential impact on metals supply, e.g. for Palladium and Cobalt! 5 WEEE DIRECTIVE EMBEDDED IN EUROPEAN LEGAL NORMS Environmental policy to be based on the Precautionary Principle (Article 174 of the EC Treaty) The polluter should pay (Article 174 of the EC Treaty) Extended producer responsibility always further developed (e.g. new Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC, Article 8) Action on the level of the EU in order to avoid disparities in financial burden, and ensure effectiveness of the recycling policy Waste an established policy area, with strong traditions 6

4 WEEE DIRECTIVE UNDER THE ROOF OF THE FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE... Very simplified overview on EU collection, revovery and recycling targets Minimum collection rate Minimum recovery target Minimum recycling target Ge neral (new Waste Framework Directive) 2015 Separate collection: at least paper/metal/plastic/glass 50% household waste % construction and demolition waste Packaging 2008 n.a. 60% 55% Automobiles % 95% 85% Electrical and Electronic Equipment kg per 70% 50% inhabitant per year Batteries % to 75% % 50% to 75% Tyres % diversion from landfill Biowaste diverted from landfills reduction to 75% of the 1995 level reduction to 50% of the 1995 level reduction to 35% of the 1995 level...and with many sister Directives 7 INDEX Motivation to establish the WEEE Directive The current WEEE Directive elements, operation, financing The proposal for a new WEEE Directive outlook 8

5 KEY ELEMENTS OF THE CURRENT WEEE DIRECTIVE 1. Separate collection of at least 4 kg of WEEE per inhabitant per year (binding for EU15) 2. Treatment requirements and targets for recovery and recycling (binding for EU15) 3. Encouragement for design that takes into account dismantling and recovery 4. Producer responsibility for financing WEEE operations from the collection point onwards 5. Making available of information for users and treatment facilities Adoption on EU level in January 2003, Transposition into national legislation required by August WEEE COLLECTION REPORTED FOR

6 RECOVERY AND RECYCLING TARGETS ARE DIFFERENTIATED BY CATEGORY Large household appliances and automatic dispensers: 80% recovery and 75% recycling by weight IT, telecoms and consumer equipment: 75% recovery and 65% recycling by weight Other categories except medical devices: 70% recovery and 50% recycling by weight Gas discharge lamps: 80% recycling by weight 11 FINANCING OBLIGATIONS A KEY ISSUE For WEEE from private households, producers are to pay starting at the collection point For historical WEEE from before August 2005, collective financing by market share For EEE placed on the market since August 2005, each producer responsible for own products Fulfillment individual OR Fulfillment by joining a collective scheme For WEEE not from private households, producers are also responsible, but with somewhat more flexibility in the system to apply 12

7 GREAT VARIETY OF IMPLEMENTATION SYSTEMS, e.g. FOR COLLECTION UP TO THE COLLECTION POINT Country Physical Responsibility Financial Responsibility Austria Distributor/Municipality/Producer Distributor/Producer Belgium (Brussels) D istributor/municipality Distributor Bulgaria Producer Producer Cyprus Producer Producer Czech R. D istributor/producer Distributor/Producer Denmark Municipality Municipality Estonia D istributor/producer Distributor/Producer Finland Distributor/Producer Producer France D istributor/municipality/producer Distributor/Producer Germany Municipality Municipality Greece Producer Producer Hungary Producer Producer Ireland Distributor/Municipality Distributor//Producer Italy D istributor/municipality Distributor/Municipality Latvia Producer Producer Lithuania Distributor/Municipality/Producer Producer Luxembourg Distributor/Municipality Distributor/Municipality Malta D istributor/producer Distributor/Producer Netherlands Distributor/Municipality Distributor/Municipality Poland D istributor Distributor Portugal Distributor/Municipality/Producer Distributor/Producer Romania M unicipality M unicipality Slovakia D istributor/producer Distributor/Producer Slovenia Distributor/Municipality Distributor/Municipality Spain Distributor/Municipality Producer Sweden Producer Producer UK D istributor/producer Distributor/Producer Public-Private Partnerships play a role in different forms Souce: Table 1 of 13 INFORMATION FOR USERS AND TREATMENT FACILITIES Product marking Info for treatment facilities To be made available to reuse centres, treatment and recycling facilities separately: Components and materials Location of dangerous substances Info for users Call to dispose separately Available collection systems Users role in the process Potential effects of harzardous substances 14

8 INDEX Motivation to establish the WEEE Directive The current WEEE Directive elements, operation, financing The proposal for a new WEEE Directive outlook 15 OBJECTIVES OF THE RECAST Reduced impacts on the environment from the collection, treatment and recovery of WEEE at the levels where the greatest net benefit to society results Reduced administrative costs through the removal of all unnecessary administrative burdens, without lowering the level of environmental protection Improved effectiveness and implementation of the Directive through increased compliance and reduced free-riding Full information on the recast: 16

9 CURRENT 4 KG COLLECTION TARGET IMPLIES VERY DIFFERENT AMBITIONS FOR MEMBER STATES Definition of the target needs to be adjusted to WEEE arising 17 PROPOSED NEW COLLECTION TARGET OF 65% BASED ON EEE PLACED ON THE MARKET 100% 80% 80% 85% 65% of EEE placed on the market EEE placed on the market WEEE arising Collection target 18

10 PRESENT WEEE IMPLEMENTATION OFTEN REQUIRES MULTIPLE REGISTRATION AND EVEN PAYMENT Flow of EEE in the EU market MS A MS B MS C Flow of data MS A MS B MS C Producer sells 1st time in EU Registration as producer on MS market Registration as producer on MS market Trader re-sells Trader re-sells Payment Payment Trader re-sells Trader re-sells Registration as importer on MS market Disposal Disposal Payment Collection Collection Treatment Treatment Compliance scheme Compliance scheme Compliance scheme 19 COMMISSION PROPOSAL TACKLES THIS PROBLEM FROM TWO SIDES Explicit reference to community market in producer and market definitions One registration for the community market One fee in the community market One legal seat in the EU Requirement for inter-operable registers All information relevant across the community market entered into one register Intra-community transfer of information, incl. for the transfer of money Format and frequency of reporting to be established through Comitology 20

11 IMPROVE EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DIRECTIVE Clarified scope definition Scope refers to RoHS (Art. 95); Exclusions clarified; Waste from private households vs. other Alignment with other Community legislation Waste Framework Directive; Marketing of Products Package Modification of recovery targets Recovery targets increased; Preparation for re-use included Encouragement for greater producer responsibility Producers role in collection targets and financing Avoid leakage of WEEE, especially to sub-treatment countries Binding inspection and monitoring requirements for shipments 21 POTENTIAL ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION FROM A EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE How to establish targets for the collection of WEEE, where data on WEEE arising actually consists of estimates only? How to combine varied and strong traditions in waste management with the requirement of one Community Market? How to avoid dillusion of responsibility, where the large number of actors involved calls for the involvement of many? Thank you for your attention. 22