4th EU-India Environment Forum - Dealing with e-waste: Key elements of the European WEEE Directive. New Delhi, 21 October 2010

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1 4th EU-India Environment Forum - Dealing with e-waste: Key elements of the European WEEE Directive New Delhi, 21 October 2010 Thorsten Brunzema European Commission DG Environment

2 INDEX Why a specific Directive for e-waste? Key elements of the current EU WEEE Directive Outlook to a new EU WEEE Directive 2

3 AMOUNT OF WEEE IS GROWING TODAY AND IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE Estimated WEEE arising (million tons) (+ 141%) (+ 720%) EU27 + CH, NO India Source: United Nations University/ TU Delft,

4 WEEE IN WILD DEPOSITS IS A NUISANCE AND A RISK FOR INJURY, AND MUCH MORE Substances contained in WEEE... Greenhouse gases Chlorinated fluorocarbons (CFCs) Heavy metals Certain flame retardants...can lead to risks for health and the environment in terms of Global warming Destruction of the ozone layer Leakage from landfills into water and soil Possible formation of new hazardous substances during incineration 4

5 SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF RESOURCES ARE TRAPPED IN EEE AFTER PRODUCTION Resource demand for use in EEE as approximate share of total demand (Estimates for 2006) 84% 79% 50% 33% 30% 30% 19% 17% 14% 12% Ruthenium Indium Antimony Tin Copper Silver Cobalt Selenium Palladium Gold Source: Hagelüken/Meskers (Umicore), Mining our Computers,

6 SUMMARY: WEEE DIRECTIVE TACKLES ALL THREE ISSUES OF A GROWING CHALLENGE Stop littering and creation of risks for injury Prevent release of hazardous substances (e.g. CFCs, heavy metals, flame retardents) Recover valuable resources by applying modern recycling technologies 6

7 INDEX Why a specific Directive for e-waste? Key elements of the current EU WEEE Directive Outlook to a new EU WEEE Directive 7

8 DEFINING ANY WASTE PROCESS MEANS ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON VERY BASIC ISSUES Issues Collection Treatment Questions Who is responsible to achieve a high collection level? Bring-system? Which incentives? (Costly) doorstep collection from households? What is the quality standard (and cost) desired? How are standards monitored and enforced? Recycling Recycling targets? For which materials? Who owns the valuable fractions of the waste? Financing Are producers responsible for all financing? Which role for citizens, NGOs, municipalities? Does who pays also own the waste? Clearing structure Who puts all data together to monitor whether overall targets are met? What if targets are not met? 8

9 THE CURRENT EU DIRECTIVE LEAVES SUBSTANTIAL ROOM FOR EU MEMBER STATES OWN ANSWERS Issues Collection Key answers of the current EU WEEE Directive Member States are to achieve 4kg collection target Type of collection system is left to MS decision Treatment Producers responsible to organise safe treatment Member States responsible to monitor and enforce Recycling Recycling targets defined per product category Ownership of valuable fraction is left to MS decision Financing Producers responsible from collection point onwards Role of other actors is left to Member States decision Clearing structure EU Member States report to the Commission Details of clearing structure are left to MS decision 9

10 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) Distributor/Municipality Distributor Bulgaria Producer Producer Cyprus Producer Producer Czech R. Distributor/Producer Distributor/Producer Denmark Municipality Municipality Estonia Distributor/Producer Distributor/Producer Finland Distributor/Producer Producer France Distributor/Municipality/Producer Distributor/Producer Germany Municipality Municipality Greece Producer Producer Hungary Producer Producer Ireland Distributor/Municipality Distributor//Producer Italy Distributor/Municipality Distributor/Municipality Latvia Producer Producer Lithuania Distributor/Municipality/Producer Producer Luxembourg Distributor/Municipality Distributor/Municipality Malta Distributor/Producer Distributor/Producer Netherlands Distributor/Municipality Distributor/Municipality Poland Distributor Distributor Portugal Distributor/Municipality/Producer Distributor/Producer Romania Municipality Municipality Slovakia Distributor/Producer Distributor/Producer Slovenia Distributor/Municipality Distributor/Municipality Spain Distributor/Municipality Producer Sweden Producer Producer UK Distributor/Producer Distributor/Producer Public-Private Partnerships play a role in different forms Souce: Table 1 of 10

11 WEEE COLLECTION REPORTED FOR 2006 Data on 2007 and 2008 under preparation, clearly positive trend 11

12 INDEX Why a specific Directive for e-waste? Key elements of the current EU WEEE Directive Outlook to a new EU WEEE Directive 12

13 DEFINING ANY WASTE PROCESS MEANS ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON VERY BASIC ISSUES Issues Collection Focus of the new WEEE proposal Target to be more ambitious, differentiated by Member State, and with greater producer responsibility Treatment Cut back on sub-standard treatment with ambitious collection target and improved export control Recycling Preparation for re-use to be counted into recycling targets Financing Encouragement for greater producer responsibility Clearing structure Reduction of burdens through a more harmonised approach 13

14 CURRENT 4 KG COLLECTION TARGET IMPLIES VERY DIFFERENT AMBITIONS FOR EU MEMBER STATES Proposed new ambition for each MS: collect 85% of WEEE arising 14

15 CURRENT WEEE IMPLEMENTATION OFTEN REQUIRES MULTIPLE REGISTRATION AND EVEN PAYMENT Flow of products in the EU market State A State B State C Flow of WEEE data State A State B State C Producer sells 1st time in EU Registration as producer on State market Registration as producer on State market Trader re-sells Trader re-sells Payment Payment Trader re-sells Trader re-sells Registration as importer on State market Disposal Disposal Payment Collection Collection Treatment Treatment Compliance scheme Compliance scheme Compliance scheme 15

16 COMMISSION PROPOSAL TACKLES THIS PROBLEM FROM TWO SIDES Simplification for producers One registration for the community market One fee in the community market One legal seat in the EU Cooperation between Member State registers Any register accepts the information for products placed on the market in any Member State Registers have to be linked or merged to ensure consistent information in the database Format and frequency of reporting needs to be harmonised to make the data exchange possible 16

17 STATUS OF DISCUSSIONS ON THE NEW EU DIRECTIVE Comission proposal made in December More info: EU Member States discussions in full swing, with collection rate and producer definition raising much interest. EU institutions to continue debate, adoption of new law possibly in Status update: 17

18 POTENTIAL LEARNINGS FROM A EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE Collection targets need to be easy to monitor and realistic to achieve Ensuring that producers pay for their waste requires to register which producer places which products on the market Parallel registration/clearing systems can lead to substantial complexity and even market barriers Harmonising core elements right at the start could be very useful Thankyouforyourattention. 18