The WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive and Disposal of Old Electronic Equipment

摘要

The fastest growing area of waste within the EU and possibly in the world, is electronic and electrical waste - old computers, washing machines, refrigerators, freezers, microwave ovens, TV sets, electronic games and radio receivers as well as electronic test equipment and at a lower level, amateur equipment. Some of the, especially older, amateur and surplus equipment is a bigger hazard than might be envisaged because of it containing 'Hazardous Waste'. This includes components and equipment containing carcinogens or potential carcinogenic materials such as polychlorinated or polybrominated biphenyls (PCB and PBB), asbestos and beryllium oxide as well as heavy metals such as lead, mercury, gold and cadmium, which could as salts contaminate the drinking water supply. It is not permissible to dispose of such material as normal household waste.