In an attempt to respond to recyclers’ quest for information about the presence of materials and components in electronic waste that require separate treatment, producers and producer responsibility organisations have teamed up to create “Information for Recyclers – I4R”, a unique one-stop source platform aimed at providing a whole range of information and guidance on how to handle WEEE: http://www.i4r-platform.eu
DIGITALEUROPE and CECED, jointly with the WEEE Forum, an international association of producer responsibility organisations and a centre of competence, are launching today a common online platform – the Information for Recyclers Platform (I4R). This new platform will allow recyclers to access information about the presence and location of materials and components that need separate treatment . The WEEE Forum will host and maintain the platform.
“We wish to drive solutions to this problem, and the I4R platform is key to better inform managers in the recycling industry and to train workers on safety issues”, said Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, DIGITALEUROPE’s Director General. “By providing information at product group level, the I4R platform will help recyclers to optimise sorting where applicable”, she added.
“The added value of the I4R platform will not only benefit recyclers and the industry, but also all European citizens. It is another example of industries working together to contribute to a Circular Society, this time by supporting recycling and secondary raw material recovery” CECED’s Director-General, Paolo Falcioni emphasised.
“The I4R platform is a major step forward in improving treatment processes, and of compliance in general”, says Pascal Leroy, Secretary General at the WEEE Forum. “Easily accessible information about the presence of batteries, printed circuit boards or plastics containing brominated flame retardants in e-waste is what recyclers require”.
Background
Article 15 of Directive 2012/19/EU on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) requires producers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) to provide information free of charge about preparation for re-use and treatment for each type of EEE placed on the market. In 2005 CECED and DIGITALEUROPE, speaking for manufacturers of home appliances and ICT / consumer electronics, and the electronics recyclers at EERA reached an agreement on the format of this information. Since then, manufacturers have been collecting the information in a harmonized reporting format for each product on their website. Today, they are launching a common online platform.
ABOUT CECED
CECED represents the home appliance industry in Europe. Direct Members are Arçelik, Ariston Thermo Group, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, Candy Group, Daikin Europe, De’Longhi, Dyson, AB Electrolux, Gorenje, Groupe Atlantic, LG Electronics Europe, Liebherr Hausgeräte, Miele & Cie. KG, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Groupe SEB, Vestel, Vorwerk and Whirlpool Europe. CECED’s member Associations cover the following countries: Austria, Baltics, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
ABOUT DIGITALEUROPE
DIGITALEUROPE represents the digital technology industry in Europe. Our members include some of the world’s largest IT, telecoms and consumer electronics companies and national associations from every part of Europe. DIGITALEUROPE wants European businesses and citizens to benefit fully from digital technologies and for Europe to grow, attract and sustain the world’s best digital technology companies. DIGITALEUROPE ensures industry participation in the development and implementation of EU policies.
DIGITALEUROPE’s members include in total 25,000 ICT Companies in Europe represented by 60 corporate members and 37 national trade associations from across Europe. Our website provides further information on our recent news and activities: http://www.digitaleurope.org
ABOUT WEEE FORUM
The WEEE Forum, set up in 2002, is a Brussels-based international not-for-profit association speaking for 34 not-for-profit electrical and electronic equipment waste (WEEE) producer compliance schemes – alternatively referred to as ‘producer responsibility organisations’ (PRO). The 36 PROs are based in Europe, Australasia and North America: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Greece, France, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It is the biggest organisation of its kind in the world. In 2016, its member organisations reported collection and proper de-pollution and recycling of 2,100,000 tonnes of WEEE. Members in 2017: Amb3E, ΑΝΑΚΥΚΛΩΣΗ ΣΥΣΚΕΥΩΝ, ASEKOL, Australia New Zealand Recycling Platform, Ecodom, Eco-systèmes, Ecotic, ECOTIC, Ecotrel, EES-Ringlus, EGIO, Electrocyclosis Cyprus, ElektroEko, Elektrowin, El-Kretsen, elretur, Environ, EPRA, Fotokiklosi, Norsirk, Recipo, Recupel, Remedia, RENAS, Repic, Retela, RoRec, SENS e-Recycling, SWICO, UFH, Úrvinnslusjóður, Wecycle, WEEE Ireland, WEEE Malta, WEEE Recycle and Zeos. Contact: info@weee-forum.org. Website: www.weee-forum.org