| Hazardous Substances, Electrical and Electronic | | | | Environmental labeling, controls, restrictions, and |
| Equipment have been categorized for labeling, | | | | recycling are gaining international attention. Japan has |
| tracking, restriction, and recycling. The objective is to | | | | been proactive in introducing recycling laws and |
| promote the use of environmentally friendly materials | | | | incentives for manufacturers to adopt lead-free |
| and manufacturing processes. The financial burden to | | | | processes. Japan has a lead-free marking requirement |
| support this transition in production is assigned by | | | | call J-MOSS that took effect on some products in |
| requirements to provide adequate programs for | | | | July 2006. |
| collection, recycling, and disposal. These costs are | | | | China introduced regulations based on a catalogue of |
| primarily carried on the shoulders of the | | | | restricted materials. Although the marking and |
| manufacturers and producers of the products. To | | | | disclosure took effect in March 2007, China has yet |
| remain competitive and to support the environmental | | | | to publish the catalog of materials. |
| initiatives, manufacturers and industry associations will | | | | South Korea introduced the Act for Resource |
| need to work together and collaborate on solutions | | | | Recycling and Electrical and Electronic Equipment and |
| that facilitate consistent programs and processes. | | | | Vehicles in April 2007. This regulation adopted |
| Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) | | | | common framework and categorization of RoHS, |
| The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment | | | | WEEE and ELV. |
| directive is a set of guidelines initially designed in | | | | US Corporate Social Responsibility |
| Europe as a means to categorize all types of | | | | In the United States, several individual states have |
| electronic goods. The directive imposes responsibility | | | | proactively introducing regulations for labeling and |
| on manufacturers to label products and establish an | | | | disposal of electronic waste. Unfortunately, it is limited |
| infrastructure in such a way that end-users of the | | | | to only a few states and the regulations have been |
| equipment should have the possibility to identify and | | | | disparate with inconsistent results. |
| return Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment free | | | | - California is the only state with RoHS compliant |
| of charge. Manufacturers are compelled to coordinate | | | | restrictions that ban the sale of products with |
| collection for ecological disposal, reuse or | | | | controlled substances. California regulations require the |
| refurbishment. | | | | retailer to collect a recycling fee at the time of |
| Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) | | | | purchase. This fee is used to reimburse independent |
| The Restriction of Hazardous Materials is an | | | | registered collectors and recyclers for managing the |
| internationally recognized directive with the intent to | | | | proper disposal of restricted materials. |
| provide common standards that can be used by | | | | - Regulations in the state of Maine share the |
| individual countries and regions to establish internal | | | | responsibility for recycling between the local |
| laws and regulations governing the proper ecologically | | | | municipalities and manufacturers, requiring producers |
| friendly disposal of electrical and electronic waste. | | | | of the goods to support the efforts both financially |
| RoHS has often been referred to as the "lead free | | | | and physically. |
| initiative", but it actually promotes restrictions on six | | | | - The state of Maryland is running a five year pilot |
| hazardous substances. | | | | program that expires in 2010. In Maryland, |
| 1. Lead | | | | manufacturers pay a registration fee to the state |
| 2. Mercury | | | | and the funds support county collection programs. |
| 3. Cadmium | | | | - In the state of Washington, manufacturers are |
| 4. Haxavalent Chromium (VI or Cr6+) | | | | responsible to fund their own plans or participate the |
| 5. Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB*) | | | | centralized standard plan administered by a state |
| 6. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE*) | | | | approved third party provider. |
| * PBB and PBDE are flame retardants used in some | | | | It is only a matter of time before more states begin |
| plastics. | | | | to introduce diverse controls on hazardous materials. |
| The RoHS directive applies to equipment defined by | | | | It is in the best interest of manufacturers and |
| a section of the WEEE directive and numeric | | | | industry associations to work together to establish |
| categories. | | | | consistent self-regulated programs, processes and |
| 1. Large and Small Household Appliances, including | | | | initiatives that promote ecologically responsible |
| Ovens, Toasters, Refrigerators, etc | | | | recycling and disposal. By demonstrating reliable |
| 2. IT equipment, including PC's, Printers, etc | | | | results, promoting consumer awareness, and |
| 3. Telecommunications equipment including phones, | | | | establishing industry sponsored accountability, it may |
| faxes, etc | | | | be possible to encourage consistent state and federal |
| 4. Consumer electronics including TV's, VCR's, CD | | | | regulations. Promoting consistency to achieve these |
| Players, etc | | | | goals reduces the risk of complicated and costly |
| 5. Lighting Equipment, including light bulbs and | | | | state controls. Protecting the environment and global |
| fluorescent tubes | | | | resources demonstrates good corporate social |
| 6. Electronic and Electrical Tools, including drills, | | | | responsibility. |
| lawnmowers, etc | | | | _________________ |
| 7. Toys, Leisure and Sports equipment, including | | | | Words of Wisdom |
| fitness machines | | | | "It may be that the old astrologers had the truth |
| 8. Medical devices are current exempt, but | | | | exactly reversed, when they believed that the stars |
| categorized for future consideration | | | | controlled the destinies of men. The time may come |
| 9. Monitoring and control equipment is currently | | | | when men control the destinies of stars." |
| exempt, but categories for future consideration | | | | - Arthur C. Clarke |
| 10. Automatic dispensers, including ATMs | | | | "Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them |
| Batteries are not included in RoHS, but are covered | | | | being made." |
| by the European Commission's Battery Directive of | | | | - Otto von Bismark |
| 1991. The European Commission is also studying | | | | "Quality in a product or service is not what the |
| possible inclusion of medical equipment, monitoring, | | | | supplier puts in. It is what the customer gets out and |
| and control equipment. These items were excluded | | | | is willing to pay for. A product is not quality because |
| from the original list of product categories, but it is | | | | it is hard to make and costs a lot of money, as |
| commonly recognized that the list will be expanded | | | | manufacturers typically believe. This is incompetence. |
| and enhanced with to include categorization of | | | | Customers pay only for what is of use to them and |
| additional hazardous substances | | | | gives them value. Nothing else constitutes quality. |
| Global Participation | | | | |