Germany fails to implement WEEE into law

June 9, 2015

The European nation is being referred to the European Court of Justice for a “failure to transpose the WEEE Directive into domestic law”.

MRW (subscription) reported on the move by the European Commission (EC) to refer Germany to the European Court of Justice over what the EC says is a “failure to transpose the WEEE Directive into domestic law”. It added that “rules intended to prevent or reduce the negative environmental impact from the waste stream” should have been enacted by 14 February 2014, and is asking the court to fine Germany over £150,000 ($229,224/€203,206) a day “until the law is introduced”.

The EC previously acted in May over Slovenia’s “failures to enact EU legislation” regarding WEEE, specifically its failure to impose legislation “on the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment waste”. The punishment was a daily fine of €8,408 ($9,466) “until the relevant legislation is transposed”, though this “seem[ed] rather low” compared to a previous fine given to the Polish government, which was €71,610 ($80,621) per day.

The revised WEEE Directive, which has been a subject of great interest and importance to the cartridge remanufacturing industry, introduced a new collection target of 45 percent of all electronic equipment sold, which needed to be met in 2016. By 2019, a target of 65 percent has been set for equipment sold and WEEE generated. The UK brought the Directive into law on 1 January 2014, and MRW adds that it was “reported to be the first member state to do so”.

The EC added that the new rules it has brought in have “eased registration and reporting requirements” by offering better tools to fight the illegal export of waste”. It also notes that the revised Directive links to “EU legislation on product design, including the eco-design directive”, which it says “encourag[es] manufacturers to improve the design of electrical and electronic equipment”.

The Commission says the new rules have eased registration and reporting requirements with better tools to fight the illegal export of waste. They also link to EU legislation on product design, including the eco-design directive, encouraging manufacturers to improve the design of electrical and electronic equipment.

Categories : Around the Industry

Tags : EU Germany WEEE