How to increase this recycling?
France transposed the European directive on the collection and the
recycling of waste electric and electronic equipments (indicated on the
packaging by a symbol showing a crossed-out wheeled bin). As a
consequence, as from November 15 2006, producers and distributors are
subjected to several obligations. A single ambition: to reduce the
quantity of such waste to be eliminated.
This need arose from a simple calculation: every European consumer produces between 17 and 20 kg a year of this type of waste.
For every category of equipments put on the market, the producers now have to:
* set up systems for the recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment collected separately.
* provide for the financing of the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Only until 2013, producers are allowed to show purchasers, at the time of sale of new products, the costs of collection, treatment and disposal in an environmentally sound way. The costs mentioned shall not exceed the actual costs incurred. After 2013 the costs of collection, treatment and environmentally sound disposal shall not be shown separately anymore. For example, this additional cost is about 0.20 € for a drill, 6 € for a dishwasher, 13 € for a refrigerator, from 1 to 8 € for a television.
Producers and distributors have to inform the consumers on:
* the requirement not to mix this type of waste with unsorted municipal waste
* their obligation to ensure separate collection and take-back systems
* the effects of such waste on the environment and health
They also have to inform and ensure that:
* final holders and distributors can return such waste free of charge;
* waste of the same type of equipment can be returned to them when
buying a new one free of charge on a one-to-one basis; But producers
are allowed to set up and operate individual or collective take-back
systems. Also the return of contaminated waste presenting a risk to the
health and safety of personnel may be refused.
Other useful information: second-hand devices are subject to the same regime.
The collection of waste will mainly be realised by two circuits:
* producers and distributors (see previous paragraph)
* local governments, notably waste collection centres.
More details on: décret du 22 juillet 2005, n°2005-829.
Sources:
article 25/09/06 on UFC que choisir or article 28/09/06 on http://www.foruminternet.org
