Don’t (put) WEEE in your skip Dr Ann Galbraith SEPS, University of Glasgow

heavy metals (e.g. mercury, lead, cadmium and chromium) Why should we worry? EEE contains: heavy metals (e.g. mercury, lead, cadmium and chromium) halogenated substances (e.g. CFCs,PCBs and PVC brominated flame retardants asbestos arsenic Shortage of landfill & raw materials

Why be concerned about these materials? Lead – neurotoxin, harms kidneys, reproductive system & mental development Mercury – damages brain, kidneys & foetal development Chromium – harms liver, kidneys, ^ lung cancer, asthma Brominated flame retardants – damage to thyroid and foetal development PVC – incineration produces highly toxic dioxins.

An example of harmful materials in a monitor Lead Screen frit 70% Glass funnel 25% Glass panel 2.5% Circuit boards PVC/Br flame retardants Plastic casing Mercury

Why be concerned about these materials? > 90 per cent of WEEE was landfilled, incinerated or recovered without any pretreatment, This allowed the risk of significant pollution entering the environment to which we are exposed.

Estimate of 2m tonnes pa in UK growing at 4% pa How much WEEE? Estimate of 2m tonnes pa in UK growing at 4% pa IBLS PAT register > 17,000 items. During a 2 years period they disposed of ~ 2000 items that would now be WEEE. Extrapolating from that gives an estimate of about 100,000 items of WEEE in the University

Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2006 Legislation Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2006

WEEE Regs. 2006 Producers responsible for financing collection, treatment & environmentally sound disposal (e.g. recovery and recycling) of WEEE (with some exceptions) From 1 July 2007 also places some responsibilities for this on business end users such as the University

Photograph of Manneqin Pis What is WEEE? Photograph of Manneqin Pis

WEEE or Wii?

WEEE - scope The Regulations apply to equipment that uses electricity as its main power source. ‘.. equipment which is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work properly ..’ ‘.. equipment for generation, transfer and measurement of such currents and fields ..’

Only those items that fit these criteria and: WEEE - scope Only those items that fit these criteria and: are designed for use with a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts AC 1,500 volts DC are listed in Schedule 1 of the Regulations

Household goods (cookers, toasters etc.) WEEE - scope Relevant examples: Household goods (cookers, toasters etc.) IT and telecommunications (computer monitors, keyboards, printers etc.) Consumer equipment (TVs, radios, video cameras etc.) Lighting equipment (e.g. florescent lamps) Electrical and electronic tools (lab equipment, sewing machine etc.)

Medical devices (radiotherapy/cardiology equipment) WEEE - scope Toys, leisure & sports (treadmills and rowing machines –Wii and DS lite!) Medical devices (radiotherapy/cardiology equipment) Monitoring equipment (smoke detectors, thermostats) Automatic dispensers (dispensers for drinks, money etc)

Some specific exemptions but majority unlikely to apply to University. WEEE - exemptions Some specific exemptions but majority unlikely to apply to University. Exemptions that may be relevant cover: Stationary industrial tools Implanted or infected medical products Filament light bulbs and household luminaries

WEEE – who is the Producer? Any person who: Manufactures and sells his own brand Re-sells under his own brand Imports EEE into the UK Suppliers (other than if they are importers) have no legal responsibility for WEEE from businesses.

WEEE – producer compliance schemes DTI requires all producers to be registered with a WEEE Compliance Scheme. These are listed on SEPA web site Compliance Schemes carry out physical recovery/recycling activities on behalf of producers by sending WEEE to Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities (AATFs) or to Authorised Exporters (AEs). Producer responsibility for financing collection and recycling began on 1st July 2007.

WEEE - marking of equipment Producers also have other responsibilities such as marking equipment with the date of manufacture and the crossed out wheeled bin symbol

WEEE - business end-users Universities are considered to be business ‘end users’ and as such from 1 July 2007 departments are responsible for ensuring recovery and recycling financing of some WEEE

WEEE – who is financially responsible (business) ? For EEE placed on the market before 13 Aug 2005 (‘historical WEEE’) If there is a ‘like for like’ replacement of the equipment the producer is responsible If there is no ‘like for like’ replacement the institutional end user is responsible for disposal costs

WEEE – who is financially responsible (business) ? EEE placed on the market after 13 Aug 2005 The producer is responsible, unless otherwise agreed with the institution at the time of purchase.

WEEE – who is financially responsible ?

WEEE - definitions ‘Placed on the market’ DTI guidance suggests that this is the date on which the product was first sold. ‘Like for like’ DTI guidance states that equipment need not be identical. Can be equipment that fulfils the same function, taking account of technological developments and improvements in functionality

WEEE - practical considerations 1 Considerations when purchasing EEE Negotiate a different arrangement ???? Get Producer Registration Number from supplier Keep track of your EEE Know when it was purchased Know the Producer & the Compliance Scheme

WEEE - practical considerations 2 Some WEEE may be Special (hazardous) Waste e.g. fridges, TVs, computer monitors Duty of Care applies to WEEE be particularly vigilant during refurbs & clearouts Always keep WEEE separate Ensure legal disposal process Keep Transfer Notes/Consignment Notes

WEEE - practical considerations 3 How do I actually get rid of my WEEE? Return to a Producer/their Compliance Scheme Will they uplift or do you need to deliver? For all high value, scientific AV and computing equipment see http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/it/forstaff/itpurchasing/disposalofitequipment/ Disposal of non-IT/AV & scientific through E&B (including Special Waste WEEE)

What about charitable donations? Items exported or designated for re-use must arrive in working order Photo of van full of unpackaged TVs and monitors

What about charitable donations? Concerns over information etc on computers FoI Data Protection Shred the hard disk, no longer in working order Can’t be exported Charity must also be an AATF

What about charitable donations? Recent estimate 100,000 computers/ month entering Lagos, some from UK Audit of containers passing though Rotterdam 50-90% of items not working (~1000 tonnes)

…. and if we get it wrong? Photo of by on streets of Karachi surrounded by computer mice that he is removing contacts from

Photograph of man using family cooking pots to recover lead … and if we get it wrong? Photograph of man using family cooking pots to recover lead

WEEE - further information Contact SEPS Guide for Universities http://www.eauc.org.uk/file_uploads/weee_insight_guide_1.pdf DTI Guidance http://www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/sustainability/weee/Factsheets/page41148.html

WEEE - further information SEPA web site http://www.sepa.org.uk/producer/weee.htm Duty of Care & classification of waste see SEPS web site