Electrical and electronic tools

Meeting set recovery rates for electrical and electronic tools

Article 7 of the WEEE Directive sets the recovery rate for category 6 devices to an overall 70% of average weight per appliance. The mandatory reuse and recycling rate for components, materials and substances is set to 50% of a device's average weight.

Selecting suitable materials is of core significance for a product's future recoverability. During recovery of cables and leads, mechanical separation into metals and a residual fraction is already common state of technology. By cleaning individual metals - mostly copper - from insulation material and other metals, it is possible to realize great value-added potentials.

Standard-compliant marking of electrical and electronic equipment

Manufacturers and importers are required to mark electrical and electronic devices which enter the market after August 13, 2005, with the WEEE symbol "crossed-out wheeled bin indicating separate collection of electrical and electronic equipment." The symbol must be printed visibly, legibly and indelibly. In exceptional cases (e.g. small size), the symbol shall be printed on the packaging, on the instructions for use and/or on the warranty of the product. With the exception of the CE-mark, medical devices shall not bear further marking. Therefore, the WEEE symbol must be printed on the packaging, etc., of such devices. To facilitate a separate handling of older single-manufacturer devices, manufacturers shall provide for the identification of devices put on the market after August 13, 2005. This shall be realized by specifying the manufacturer and the date of manufacture.

Separate collection of electrical and electronic equipment

A separate collection is prerequisite for the specific treatment and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. According to Article 5 of WEEE, manufacturers are obliged to take back returned waste equipment. This obligation can be met in various ways. Waste equipment can either be returned to the manufacturer directly and free of charge, or disposed of through collective take-back systems. The latter is compulsory for historical EEE waste. Older devices from private households can be returned to the distributor (>150m2 sales floor) free of charge when purchasing an equivalent new device. The collection of commercially used waste EEE must be provided for by manufacturers or third parties acting on their behalf. Two take-back points per administrative district shall be established for distributors using distance selling channels.
Further information on collection categories (only in German)
Further information on collection systems

Selective treatment: removal of fluids and hazardous substances

In accordance with Article 6, hazardous substances from separately collected EEE waste shall be removed in order to forestall the release or transfer of such substances. Some electro waste, on the other hand, is abundant with valuable recyclables, such as copper wire in external electrical leads, which can be recovered and reused. To comply with the WEEE Directive, at least all fluids and hazardous substances shall be removed from waste equipment, as stated in ANNEX II.These substances and fluids include: CFC, HCFC, HFC and hydrocarbons (HC). Among other applications, hazardous substances can be found in:

• cooling agents and insulants in cooling units, air conditioning and heat pumps
• lube oils in larger electric motors (e.g. gardening implements, electrical tools, chain saws)
• heat transfer oils in insulants of oil radiators or in oil-filled transformers (in various gardening and camping implements)
• wet batteries (e.g. lawn mowers with lead storage batteries, emergency power supplies).
  
  

Selective treatment: removal of components which contain hazardous substances

In accordance with Article 6, components which contain hazardous substances must be removed from electro waste. Such components are e.g.:

• PCB-containing capacitors and electrolytic capacitors
• mercury-containing components, such as switches or lamps
• batteries
• PCBs
• toner cartridges
• cathode ray tubes and LCDs
• gas discharge lamps
• external electrical leads.

Detailed information on components which need to be removed is available in ANNEX II. Processing standards are specified for a selection of components. The fluorescent coating of cathode ray tubes, for example, must be removed.

Product concepts

According to WEEE's Article 4, manufacturers are to facilitate the reuse of waste electro equipment by avoiding obstructive design features or manufacturing processes. Exempt from this provision are features and processes which are clearly favorable as to pollution control and safety regulations. Hence, the dismantling and recovery of electro equipment - its reuse and recycling in particular - are to be considered and facilitated right from the beginning of the design stage of new electrical and electronic products.

End-user information

Article 10 of the WEEE Directive states that private household users of electro devices shall be adverted both to the obligation to separately collect electro waste and to currently available return and collection systems. In view of this necessity, manufacturers need to explain the meaning of the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol required by ANNEX IV. Additionally, producers are called on to emphasize the symbol's part in the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of electro waste.
Furthermore, they are to state potential adverse effects on the environment and human health which may occur due to the presence of hazardous substances.

Information for treatment facilities

In accordance with Article 11 of the WEEE Directive, manufacturers shall supply information which facilitates the reuse and an adequate, ecologically sound treatment of waste electrical and electronic equipment, which encompasses maintenance, upgrade, refurbishment and recycling. Producers must provide details as to the various components and materials contained in a product and specify the parts which contain hazardous substances and preparations.