Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica Producer Responsibility for WEEE in the European Union An overview of legislation and implementation Ivo Haenen, WASTE, Advisers on Urban Environment and Development, Gouda, The Netherlands

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica Overview of the presentation  Introduction  The WEEE Directive  EPR at Member States level  EPR systems options for countries  Country overview with 2 examples  Some concerns  Final remarks  Questions?

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica Introduction  Introduction to WASTE  Introduction to the bilateral project: “Implementation and strengthening of systems that guarantee a responsible management of WEEE, in Costa Rica and The Netherlands”  Introduction to this presentation

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica The WEEE Directive (1)  Objectives:  Prevention of WEEE  Increase reuse, recovery, and recycling as to minimise disposal of WEEE  Improve environmental performance of life cycle of WEEE of all operators involved: producers, distributors, consumers, treatment facilitators

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica The WEEE Directive (2) Key aims are:  Reduction of WEEE to landfill  Set targets for recovery, reuse and recycling  Provide for better product design for improved recoverability, reusability and recyclability  Provide for the establishment of take-back scheme and set up collection facilities, free to use for consumers  Provide a framework for financing structures Source: IPTS, 2006

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica EPR at level of EU Member States Member States must:  make their own choices about how to transpose the WEEE Directive into national legislation and where to assign national responsibility  ensure that systems for separate collection are in place and financed by producers  inform HH, register producers, monitor performance, collect annual sales and recovery information, and report to EU Commission every three years

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica EPR system options for countries (1)  Collective vs. Individual responsibility:  National collective (monopoly) vs. competitive clearing house system  Collection / Recovery Channels:  Retail, municipal, producer  Organisation, Logistics & Treatment  Single Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) vs. multiple service providers  In-house vs. outsource  How many categories of WEEE?  Exceed collection rates or not?

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica EPR system options for countries (2)  Informative instruments  Use a disposal fee? Visible or not?  Campaigns or other PR approaches?  Financing structures:  Do fees accrue in a fund, or invoice payment (no fee)?  Cost-sharing for historical / orphan products?  Real costs of treatment or flat fee per type?  Guarantees: financial guarantees, insurance, participation in scheme?

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica EPR system options for countries (3) Recovery Channels (One or more):  Municipal collection: At depots, with bulky waste or by other arrangements  Retail take back on 1:1 basis, free for consumers: all countries except Germany which has no take back  Producer take back: generally only for large commercial appliances, and on 1:1 basis

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica Country overview (1) Collective vs. Individual Resp

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica Country overview (2)  Collective Responsibility  Belgium, The Netherlands, Sweden (operational)  Portugal, Ireland, Hungary Luxemburg, Cyprus (partially operational)  Individual Responsibility  Germany (partial); France, UK, Spain, Italy + 15 others (systems designed but not yet fully operational)  Many delays, with issues still to be resolved

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica Country overview (3) Financing: Fees  No fee for Cyprus, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta  Visible fee mandatory for Luxemburg, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden  Visible fee allowed in other EU Countries (15)

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica Example: The Dutch system (1) Collective responsibility, two major systems: 1. NVMP:  Ensures collection, transport and recycling of White & Brown Goods  Maintains fund, accrued by Advanced Disposal Fees  Monitors and reports to VROM  Informs the public and producers  Uses both in-house services (transport & segregation) as outsourced services (recycling)

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica Example: The Dutch system (2) 2. ICT Milieu:  Ensures transport of ICT WEEE, from regional depots to treatment facility and outsources recycling  Invoices producers of ICT equipment for collection, transport and treatment costs, based on market share (no consumer fees)  Monitors and reports to VROM

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica Example Spain  Individual responsibility model  Producers must cover all costs for collection, treatment and final disposal, also for historic waste, based on market share  Registration of producers done by National Register of Industrial Establishments (government)  Take-back through 1:1 at retailer or authorized drop-off points  Municipality responsible for primary collection WEEE from HH  Trade associations are set up

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica Some concerns:  “WEEE Directive only transposed”  Collective systems are the only ones operating, while individual systems are delayed and untested  Diversity of country models / interpreta- tions of WEEE directive level increases costs and creates avoidance behaviour  Recovery targets not consistent with sales  Little attention to prevention, reuse and re-design in practice

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica Final remarks  Effectiveness of systems VERY country specific  One EU? Not in implementation WEEE management  One LAC? One Central America? One Caribbean?

Third International Workshop November San José, Costa Rica Thank you for your attention! Questions are welcome