Introduction

This Toolkit

The advent of European legislation imposing a responsibility upon producers to recover and recycle their product waste at the end of its life has created a number of new challenges for business. There are now legal and financial responsibilities for businesses in the following sectors:

• Packaging
• Automotive
• Electronics
• Electrical appliances

Additionally, there are lists of proscribed substances for products in these sectors.

This toolkit focuses on the two Directives impacting the electrical and electronics sectors. These Directives are:

• The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive

This Directive sets targets for the recovery and recycling of all electrical and electronic waste:

• The Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) Directive

This Directive restricts the use of certain substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

This toolkit provides a range of resources that will assist small and medium sized businesses in developing effective responses to the legislation. These include training materials, assistance with locating RoHS listed substances in your products, alternatives to these substances, a detailed analysis of the challenges of moving to Lead-Free assembly, full explanations of the requirements of the Directives, details of how to register as a producer in the UK, an overview of the legislation in other EU Member States, industry views of the Directives, and how to manage the impacts upon your business and supply-chain.

The drop-down menus to the left of the screen give access to the different levels of the toolkit.