Leading PC recycling charity Computer Aid has slammed the UK government's latest regulations on new Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
The government's consultation is due to come into effect from January 2010, with Computer Aid International urging the government to set clear reuse targets and introduce greater incentives for reuse over recycling.
Computer Aid is recommending reuse targets are added to the WEEE regulations and that the rules on exports of WEEE out of the EU are tightened.
Consumers need waste education
Finally, the charity wants to see more education initiatives to inform consumers, helping to ensure they are fully aware of the various options available to them when they need to get right of old PCs, gadgets and electrical waste.
"While we welcome the leadership of the UK government in encouraging reuse in the WEEE directive, the intention of the regulations has failed as there is no evidence to show that businesses and PCS's are prioritising reuse," said Tony Roberts, Founder of Computer Aid,
"To ensure this is carried out, the government needs to put in place measurements and targets for reuse of working equipment, checks need to be implemented to ensure this is always the preferred method of handling electrical waste, and the benefits of reuse over recycling actively promoted."
Computer Aid stresses that it is "twenty times better for the environment to reuse a PC as 75% of the fossil fuels used over the life-cycle of a PC have already been consumed before the computer is switched on for the very first time."
If you, your business or your school has ICT equipment you wish to donate to a very worthy cause indeed, then you can find out more about Computer Aid International at www.computeraid.org
Your comments (2) Click to add a new comment
netman
April 18th
2. why isn't there more publicity for this sort of stuff? It is common sense to re-use PCs rather then expensively recycle the components.
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jmace86
April 17th
1. I think that there needs to be a big initiative in educating people on where they can dispose of electrical products. I have dozens of batteries, old phone chargers, broken headphones, etc. to rid myself of, but I have absolutely no idea where I am supposed to dispose of them. I know that they are not meant to be thrown in with normal rubbish, but I never see any information detailing how I AM supposed to throw them away.
Why can we not all just be provided with a recycling bin specifically for electrical component to go along with the various recycling bins for paper/card/bottles/cans?
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