The EC asked electronics and electrical goods manufacturers to replace lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium with less harmful substances by the year 2008. Manufacturers must substitute two types of brominated flame retardants -- PBB and PBDE -- by the same date, unless replacements are unable to meet fire safety standards.

Although industry and public interest groups are relieved that a concrete proposal exists after a seven-year drafting process, the EC's plan has drawn a mixed response.

While one commissioner, Margot Wallström, called the proposals a major step toward sustainable production and consumption, European electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers argue that they need cadmium, lead, and mercury to sustain their manufacturing processes. A ban, they say, could hurt the industry.

The association representing Europe's electronics industry, Orgalime, lobbied the commission last year to exempt harmful substances in certain applications.

Orgalime -- also known as the Liaison Group of the European Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, and Metalworking Industries -- claimed that there are no viable alternatives to the banned substances in many applications. Its 25 member trade federations, representing some 100,000 companies in 16 Western European countries, will now find themselves paying for the new legislation.

In line with the "polluter-pays" principle, producers will have to organize and finance the treatment, recovery, and disposal of waste. Since more than 90 percent of electrical and electronics equipment waste is disposed of improperly, member states will have to organize collection from private households. Producers will then channel the waste into certified treatment facilities. Treatment standards will be in force by 2006.

The commission hopes manufacturers will heed these measures and, in addition, reduce hazardous substances at the design stage of their products.

Discarded electrical and electronics equipment is a major biohazard. Its waste is one of the largest sources of heavy metals and organic pollutants entering municipal landfills and incinerators.

From refrigerators and washing machines to TVs and toasters, this waste consititutes 4 percent of municipal waste in the European Union, and these numbers are growing by 16 to 28 percent every five years, EU statistics show. That's three times as fast as the growth of average municipal waste.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2000