‘Resource efficiency’ is the goal of the EU’s new WEEE directive

The EU (European Union) recently updated its Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment  (WEEE) regulations with a new directive: By 2020, at least 85 percent of electronic equipment waste must be recycled, according to a report from ITPro.

WEEE regulations are in place to prevent harmful materials from polluting the environment and, with the new directive, they also require manufacturers to recover rare metals used in computers, laptops, smartphones and other electrical devices.

The new laws also mandate that by 2016, 45 percent of electrical equipment sold in the EU has to be recycled, and all types of e-waste, rather than just certain categories, are regulated.

EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik said, "In these times of economic turmoil and rising prices for raw materials, resource efficiency is where environmental benefits and innovative growth opportunities come together. We now need to open new collection channels for electronic waste and improve the effectiveness of existing ones."

At Etratech, we know recycling is critical to the sustainability of our planet. We also recognize the importance of being an environmentally conscious business. Etratech is RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) compliant. Contact us for more information.