Challenges of the Implementation of the WEEE Directive in the Danish Context

Abstract

Ecological and economic intentions often compete in today's business world. So far, companies rarely accept the responsibility for external effects, i.e. the gap between ecological and economic costs. Although the European and National legislations are forcing the internalization of these costs (the recovery costs should be afforded by the original equipment manufacturers), the social responsibility of the enterprises and the environmental performances are also important issues, as well as to which extend governmental institutions and local municipalities should be involved in planning and performing the reverse process. The study considers the effects of the European Directives on electrical/electronic equipment waste and restriction of use of certain hazardous substances (WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on waste electrical and electronic equipment and RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment), both influencing the electrical and electronic products market. It analyzes the impact of the recovery legislations on companies' behaviour and end-oflife/end-of-use products disposal and it wants to stress the existing severe gap between the efforts made by producers in order to design and manufacture recyclable products and the existing recycling technologies. The analysis is based on considerations derived from interviews conducted in manufacturing companies operating in the medical devices, IT and mobile communications sectors, collective schemes agencies, governmental institutions, plastics producers and municipalities within Denmark.