The draft WEE Directive is problematic and controversial. It demonstrates the Commission's drive to push forward the concept of producer responsibility (which the Commission intends to continue ). The draft WEE Directive specifies that producers are given the sole responsibility for setting up re-use and recycling systems, meeting re-use and recycling targets and shouldering the costs. The draft WEE Directive also sets demanding targets and wide discretion is given to Member State governments in paving the way for high recycling levels. Further, producers will also have significant administrative burdens to comply with.
The progress of this legislative proposal thus merits careful monitoring, especially for all electrical and electronic equipment producers on the European market, along with their material and component suppliers. This article examines the draft WEE Directive in its current form and briefly highlights some of its difficulties. A brief comparison is also made with the proposal for a Directive for End-Of-Life Vehicles and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (which is due to be revised next year).
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| Bruce W. Owens - | Brussels - (011-322-278-1211) |