UK/EEC RoHS and WEEE Directives and Laws

These new laws and directives affect every business in the UK and are part of ISO, Health & Safety Policies and QC Audits.

What is RoHS?

The RoHS Directive stands for "the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment" and came into force on July 1st 2006. This Directive bans the placing on the EU market of new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants.

What is WEEE?

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) legislation introduces new responsibilities for businesses and other non-household users of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). This includes schools, hospitals, and government agencies, when they dispose of their electrical waste. These organisations will need to ensure that all separately collected WEEE is treated and recycled

Fluorescent tubes, Mercury, Halides, HPS and most electronic products contain mercury. Mercury is a very useful and essential element, but is also hazardous if not disposed of correctly.

There is enough mercury in an old 6ft T8 or T12 fluorescent tube or on small computer circuit board to pollute 30,000 litres of drinking water. So it has to be carefully disposed of ensuring that it does not enter water tables through landfill and waste sites.

It is now illegal for businesses to deposit used fluorescent tubes, mercury, discharge lamps and most electronic components in landfill sites.

For further information on RoHS click here

For further information on WEEE click here