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NETW
RK
for Electronic Product Design
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CfSD Conferences and Networks
page | NEPD Homepage | Online
conference
NEPD 7: Product design
implications of the European Commission's recent approach to the management
of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
26th February 1998
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Conference papers
Contents:
European moves towards to legislation
European Union (EU) paper on the management of WEEE: an
industry response
The environmental management perspective
The engineering design perspective
Workshops
Contents:
European moves towards to legislation
Mike Curtis, Recycling Policy Section, Environment Directorate,
Department of Trade & Industry
Producer responsibility (PR) implies a shared responsibility for products when they become waste. PR covers electrical and electronic equipment; packaging; batteries; tyres; vehicles; and news print. Implementation of PR can be approached by voluntary action, negotiated agreement or regulation. In the UK PR legislation was empowered through the Environment Act 1995, with its first application to the packaging sector. The proposal for harmonised WEEE has been out for circulation to industry across the EU. The document suggests recycling and collection percentages across all major sub-sectors in the electronic sector.
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European Union (EU) paper on the management
of WEEE: an industry response
Valentine Herman, European Environmental Coordinator, ICL
plc
The paper suggests that there should be the development of a framework for 'end of life' management (EOLM) that does not distort the Single Market. This should relate to products placed onto the market after the proposal's implementation, with responsibility shared by all players. Collection and recycling targets should be achievable, and there should be minimum duplication with existing waste infrastructure. WEEE legislative proposals should be consistent with other environment, health and safety legislation and any national schemes should not distort competition.
The environmental management perspective
Joy Boyce, Chairman, ICER Manager, Corporate Environmental
Affairs, ICL plc
WEEE is a small waste stream, with biggest impact in usage phase of the life cycle. Environmental management systems should be developed to be flexible enough to help manage WEEE. A key issue will the development of strategies for 'shared' responsibility, throughout the whole product and project life. The electronics industry has shifted from manufacturing to assembly therefore strategies therefore programmes need to put in place to actively work with suppliers. Design implications include the need for education focusing on the whole project life cycle not just the product life cycle. In the UK, the Industry Council for Electronic Recycling (ICER) role is to make its members aware of the complex issues surrounding WEEE and it is completing a range of projects to enable this.
The engineering design perspective
Dr Jonathan Williams, Director, Group for Environmental Manufacturing
There are different engineering organisational cultures that need to be considered when thinking about WEEE. For example, Concurrent engineering is structured and quantitative, and 'Design for Environment' (DfE) is unstructured and qualatative. There are impacts throughout the life cycle, but it is difficult to predict the whole life cycle. There a range of DfE tools that have been developed including software and checklists, however many of these are in the early phases of application. The REDI project has developed a methodology to explore eco-efficiency of electronics products. The tool is discussed further in the paper.
Managing eco-design
Martin Charter, Joint Coordinator, The Centre for Sustainable
Design
A range of issues were explored in the workshop, these are highlighted. Environmental management generally appears to be managing 'end of life', as well as eco-design issues. However, mainstream 'product-related' decisions are often made elsewhere. Systematic eco-design management programmes are new and immature, and if they are to be effectively implemented there needs to be senior level commitment. There often appears to be little communications between those undertaking eco-design and EOLM projects within companies, with significant potential for 're-inventing the wheel'!. There needs to be the appropriate tools for product designers to enable eco-design, if it is going to progress effectively.
Recycling
Rebecca May, Director, Intex Computers Ltd.
The discussion drew from Intex's experience in electronics recycling. Intex focuses on services for EOLM of WEEE. Within the Group there are four companies: Intex Logistics; Intex Computers; Intex Plastics; and Intex Recycling. The company was established in 1995 and has over 100 employees and turnover of œ4 with sites in the UK and Ireland. Within electronic recycling there are various needs: developing new technologies e.g. sorting; develop academic qualifications; introduce recycling villages; change perception of recycling; and to develop and expand the infrastructure.
'End of life' management
Kieren Mayers, Research Engineer, Hewlett Packard
PR is the direct application of the polluter pays principle
to waste management. In 1991, Korea became the first to implement PR in
the electronics sector. 'End of life' is a process and not a point. A key
issue will the need to develop better incentives to get products back particularly
given recent research that indicates the most computers end up in employees
homes. To ease reverse distribution, it will be increasing important to
design products for ease of dismantability and recycling.
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