WEEE Recast Directive 2012/19/EU: Some states are still missing

EU Member States have to adopt national laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the new Directive 2012/19/EU of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE Recast Directive). The deadline for transposition was 14 February 2014. Today, one year after that day, only 20 of the states have adopted the necessary legal provisions. In Belgium only one of the three regions, namely Flanders, has transposed the Recast. Cyprus, Germany, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Spain only have drafts available. In Slovenia not even a draft has been published yet.

WEEE Regulations in UK – Classification of Dual Use Equipment will Change

Following the new WEEE Regulations in UK, beginning with January 1, 2016, any electrical and electronic equipment which can be used by both households as well as business users (‘dual use’) has to be classified as household equipment (B2C). For producers whose electrical and electronic equipment is re-classified as B2C this means: • Producers will have to provide the sales data in accordance with the new classifications beginning with January 1, 2015. This is required in order to calculate the obligations for 2016. • Since the invoicing for the volumes put on the market in 2015 takes place in 2016, producers might have to face an additional B2C financial obligation up from January 2016. • Producers need to change registration with the Environment Agency. This has to be done prior to the data submission for the first quarter of 2015.

Externer Akku für Mobiltelefon oder Tablet: Powerbank kann unter das ElektroG fallen

Wer kennt das nicht: Man ist unterwegs und plötzlich gibt das Mobiltelefon oder Tablet den Geist auf, weil der Akku leer ist und neu aufgeladen werden muss. Abhilfe können hier die sogenannten Powerbanks schaffen, also externe Akkus, die via USB-Schnittstelle das Handy oder Tablet mit neuer Energie versorgen. Das Powerbank selbst kann mittels eines Netzadapters direkt am Stromnetz oder via USB-Verbindung an einem Notebook aufgeladen werden. Auf den ersten Blick erscheint das Powerbank wie eine aufladbare Batterie. Doch aufgrund seiner Funktionalitäten und technischen Eigenschaften kann es unter den Anwendungsbereich des Elektro- und Elektronikgerätegesetzes (ElektroG) fallen, also als Elektrogerät eingestuft werden. Damit ergeben sich für Hersteller und Händler von Powerbanks weitreichende Verpflichtungen. 1cc unterstützt Hersteller und Händler von Elektro- und Elektronikprodukten wie beispielsweise Powerbanks bei der Klärung Ihrer Verpflichtungen aus dem ElektroG oder Batteriegesetz (BattG). Kontaktieren Sie uns unter compliance@1cc-consulting.com.

WEEE Germany – Stiftung EAR changed factors for calculating guarantee amounts

The German Stiftung EAR has checked the guarantee parameters stated in rule ear 02-003. As a consequence, the medium disposal costs and the presumed return rates were partly changed. The new values are valid for the calculation of guarantee amounts for months of placing on the market as of January 1, 2015. http://www.stiftung-ear.de/index_ger.html

WEEE: Printer cartridges with electronic components in scope of German ElektroG

Toner and ink cartridges which include electronic components are considered to be in the scope of the German ElektoG (independent from the transposition of the WEEE Directive). This is the result of a discussion between representatives of German Umweltbundesamt (environmental protection agency), the German Stiftung ear (national WEEE register) and the industry association BITKOM on August 5, 2014. Producers or distributors who bring toner or ink cartridges on the market which need electric current or electromagnetic fields during their use must register the company and the cartridges at ear, submit the obligatory quantity reports and mark their devices with the crossed-out wheeled waste bin. This interpretation of the German ElektroG with respect to toner and ink cartridges with electronic components is valid immediately and can be subject to enforcement practice of local authorities. The “new” interpretation is in line with the concept of German Stiftung ear, while industry has argued to continue to consider toner and ink cartridges as supplies material which is not in the scope of German ElektroG. This interpretation was common understanding in the past. Competent authorities are expected to examine more closely compliance with the new interpretation beginning next year, according to BITKOM.

WEEE Recast Directive 2012/19/EU: Only few countries on time with transposition

EU Member States have to adopt national laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the new Directive 2012/19/EU of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE Recast Directive). The deadline for transposition was 14 February 2014. However, most Member States did not meet this deadline. To date, only Bulgaria, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the UK have implemented the new WEEE Directive into national law. Several other countries have published draft legislation, as for example Austria, Croatia, France, Germany and Italy.

Reclassification of LED lamps

The German Stiftung ear has reclassified LED lamps. This type of lamps is no longer allocated to category 5a (glow-discharge lamps that can be used in private households), but to 5b (other lighting fixtures or devices for distributing or controlling light that can be used in private households). Waste from lighting equipment is now collected together with small household equipment, tools etc. As a consequence, LED producers are responsible to participate in the recycling of a mix of e-waste which is much cheaper for them and where they have presumably lower market shares in terms of total weight. Moreover, parameters to determine the financial guarantee are also more favorable to the producers.