EU Hangs Tough on Electronics Take-Back

On May 15th, the European Union assembly voted to tighten recycling targets on its sweeping electronics take-back law that covers everything from hair dryers to computers. Next, national governments will debate the draft law. The parliament voted to:* increase the per capita amount of waste to be collected from four – six kilograms per person per year. * Increase the total amount of consumer items to be recycled from 50-70 percent. * put the financial burden for collecting, recycling, and disposing of waste completely on manufacturers.* move up the date for when waste collection systems must be in place – from five years to 30 months after the law is passed. Although the European Association of Consumer Electronics Manufacturers expressed alarm at having to take on the whole financial burden, the parliament also made changes helpful to industry. As a concession to manufacturers who argue they should not have to pay for recycling products made before the law, companies will be allowed to charge consumers a separate recycling fee for the next 10 years. Also, manufacturers will pay only to recycle their own products, rather a fee based on their market share, as in the original proposal.Last year, the EU […]

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