Introduction
What are the WEEE and RoHS Directives?
How does the WEEE Directive Work?
Scope of the WEEE Directive
Registration and enforcement in the UK
Importing and exporting
Compliance Options
Treatment and recycling
Allocation of responsibility
Costs
What does the WEEE Directive mean for UK Manufacturers, local authorities and Retailers?
The WEEE Directive in other EU Member States
How will RoHS Work?
Scope of the RoHS Directive
Definitions
Restrictions
Exemptions
Testing
Industry Views
DIY Compliance Check
WEEE DIY compliance check
RoHS DIY compliance check
Actions for complying with WEEE
Actions for Complying with RoHS
Lead Free
How do I raise awareness?
Tools resources and further information


Information requirements

The WEEE Directive includes a number of requirements to provide information on the products placed on the market. The requirements are as follows. Users of electrical and electronic equipment in private households should be given the necessary information about:

  • The requirement not to dispose of WEEE as unsorted municipal waste and to collect such WEEE separately.
  • The return and collection systems available to them.
  • Their role in contributing to reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of WEEE.
  • The potential effects on the environment and human health as a result of the presence of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
  • The meaning of the following symbol that must be on all electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market after the commencement of the regulations. In exceptional circumstances (arising from the size or function of the product) the symbol shall be printed on the packaging, on the instructions for use and on The warranty.
  • Some or all of the information referred to above shall be provided by producers and/or distributors.

Additionally, in order to facilitate the reuse and the correct and environmentally sound treatment of WEEE Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that producers provide reuse and treatment information for each type of new electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) put on the market within one year of that EEE being placed on the market. This information shall identify:

  • The different electrical and electronic equipment components and materials.
  • The location of dangerous materials and preparations.

This information shall be made available to reuse centres, and to treatment and recycling facilities by producers in the form of manuals or by means of electronic media.

Furthermore, all obligated products placed on the market after commencement of the WEEE regulations shall be clearly identifiable by a mark on the appliance.  This mark must be added to all EEE placed on the market after the regulations commence in each Member State. In practice for producers taking a pan-European approach this will effectively mean from 13th August 2005 which was the date that the legislation was due to come into force across the EEA.

For guidance on WEEE marking see the CENELC standard 50419.