With the adoption of the WEEE directives by the EU, the
disposal of
redundant IT and computer equipment has become an issue for all businesses
in the UK. The protection of the environment is the aim of the directive, as it feels that the benefits of
recycling of computer hardware will far outweigh the extra costs involved.
The list of equipment (
computer hardware recycling is only one
area) that must be
properly disposed of is quite extensive and thus,
as with many other areas of business, it is best to get an expert agency
to assist and ensure compliance with the WEEE directive (and thus the avoidance
of any fines).
Using our vast experience, Recycle IT 4U can:-
- Show you the benefits of recycling computer hardware
- Help you to protect the environment and dispose of your computers
- Securely Dispose all Electronic Data on your computers
Details of the "Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment" (WEEE) Directive:-
The Commission of the European Communities proposed a Directive
(in June 2000) on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
that is designed to protect soil, water and air from pollution caused
by management of WEEE, to avoid the generation of waste and to reduce
the harmfulness of WEEE. Further objectives are to preserve resources,
especially energy and to create harmonisation of national measures across
member states.
The main devices which are identified, as potentially dangerous, in electrical
and electronic equipment include printed circuit boards, cables, wires,
plastics containing flame retardants, mercury switches, displays (e.g. cathode
ray tubes), batteries, data storage media, light generators (e.g. lamps),
capacitors, resistors, relays, sensors and connectors (mobile phones contain
many of the above components). The substances within these devices which
cause most concern environmentally are the heavy metals such as lead,
mercury, cadmium and chromium, halogenated substances (e.g. CFCs), polychlorinated
biphenyls ( aka PCBs, not to be confused with printed circuit boards),
PVC and brominated flame retardants (which can give rise to extremely
toxic dioxins such as PBDDs and furans such as PBDFs when incinerated).
Other components which are mentioned are arsenic, asbestos, nickel and
even copper (which can act as a catalyst to increase the formation of
dioxins during incineration).