Topic outline

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    Waste electrical and electronic equipment and producer responsibility

     

    The purpose of WEEE regulation is to reduce the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and promote the reuse, recycling and recovery of WEEE.

    Electrical and electronic equipment must bear a separate collection label, i.e. the symbol representing a crossed-out wheelie-bin, and a marking that indicates that the equipment was placed on the market after 13 August 2005. A solid black bar underneath the separate collection label is a marking in conformity with standard EN 50419 that meets the above requirements. 

    a separate collection label


    The marking of electrical and electronic equipment indicates that the equipment is to be collected separately from other waste. The marking must be visible, legible and indelible. In exceptional cases, the label can be placed on the appliance’s packaging, user instructions or the warranty information if this is necessary due to the size or function of the device.

    In the case of electrical equipment, producer responsibility applies to the electrical appliance itself, batteries and accumulators, and packaging. Manufacturers, importers and remote sellers of electrical appliances, batteries and accumulators have an obligation and right under the Waste Act to organise the disposal of their products when they are decommissioned. Producer responsibility for packaging applies to all packers, operators commissioning packing, importers of packaged products and remote sellers with a turnover of more than 1 million euros. Producer responsibility for packaging does not apply to packaging manufacturers. Producer responsibility covers the collection, transport and waste treatment/recycling of products. Businesses that have producer responsibility should take care of it by joining a producer community in their own sector. You can find more information on the website of the Pirkanmaa Ely Centre.

     

    Read more about SER and producer responsibility:

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment – SER, WEEE on the Tukes website

    EU’s questions and answers on the WEEE Directive (in English)

    Producer responsibility – Producer responsibility – ELY Centre

     

      




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      Frequently asked questions



      Is it enough to have a separate collection label for electrical appliances, batteries or accumulators?

      Separate collection labelling alone is not enough, because labelling also involves producer responsibility. A producer who is the manufacturer, importer, seller of a product who sells equipment under their brand name or a remote seller is responsible for the waste management costs of the product when the product is decommissioned. Producer responsibility applies to electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, accumulators and packaging.

      In Finland, Producer responsibility – Producer responsibility – ELY Centre is responsible for matters related to producer responsibility.

       


◄Batteries and accumulators
►Packaging