Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
The "WEEE" Directive lays down requirements covering the design of electrical and electronic equipment* to ensure that recycling and reuse at the end of the product service life is possible, the separate collection of such waste and the treatment of it to ensure that the relevant quantities are recovered for reuse.
"WEEE" was implemented in Britain by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006, now replaced by new regulations with the same name, dated 2013. Full details can be found in the Regulations themselves.
RoHS & RoHS2
The "RoHS" Directive's stated aim is to reduce the risks to health and the environment when waste electrical and electronic equipment is recycled.
RoHS was extended by Directive 2011/65/EU (“RoHS2”) which added two further substances to those controlled and extended the range of electrical and electronic equipment covered. The changes have been incorporated into the summary below :-
From 1st July 2006, new electrical & electronic equipment placed on the market may not contain any of the following substances in excess of the indicated tolerance levels:-
| CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE | TOLERANCE LEVEL |
| lead | 0.1 % |
| cadmium | 0.01 % |
| mercury |
0.1 % |
|
hexavalent chromium |
0.1% |
| ADDED BY RoHS2 | |
| brominated biphenyls | 0.1 % |
| polybrominated diphenyl ethers | 0.1 % |
The restrictions do not apply to the provision of spare parts for equipment produced before the relevant implementation date. Details of the UK implementing legislation covering "RoHS2" can be found below.
There is an official UK Internet site covering RoHS2 - click here to access it. The site has a practical guide to the steps necessary to ensure compliance with RoHS2.
NB We provide this information in the belief that it is an accurate interpretation of the legislation. Final responsibility for compliance, however, must always remain with the person using JMB products.
* "electrical and electronic equipment" is defined as equipment operating at or below 1000V AC and at or below 1500 V DC and which falls within the following categories:
- large household appliances
- small household appliances
- IT and telecommunications equipment
- consumer equipment
- lighting equipment
- electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large- scale stationary industrial tools)
- toys, leisure and sports equipment automatic dispensers
- medical devices (added by RoHS2)
- monitoring and control instruments (added by RoHS2)
- in-vitro medical devices (added by RoHS2)
- industrial monitoring and control instruments (added by RoHS2 - applies from 22.07.2017)
- active implantable medical devices (to be reviewed in 2020 for inclusion)
- all other electrical devices nad electronic equipment not covered by any of the categories above (added by RoHS2 - applies from 22.07.2018)
REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
- Directive 2002/96/EC waste electrical and electronic equipment "WEEE"
- Directive 2003/108/EC amends the above
- Directive 2002/95/EC restricts the use of certain hazardous substances "RoHS"
- OJ L 214, 18.08.2005 confirms the proposed tolerance levels for "RoHS"
- UK DTI document dated 10.08.2005 regarding WEEE implementation date
- Restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment Regulations 2005 (SI 2005 No. 2748) - RoHS implementing Regulations
- Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 (SI 2006 No. 3289)
- Directive 2011/65/EU extends the coverage of RoHS - "RoHS2"
- The restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment Regulations 2012 (SI 2012 No. 3032)
- Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 (SI2013 No. 3113)
We can supply copies of any of these reference documents in electronic form.
This page will be updated as and when further developments in the implementation of RoHS occur.
Please feel free to contact us for futher information and help.