The collection of electric and electronic wastes changes: open scope and implementation of the manufacturer’s extended responsibility. Interview with Daniela Carriera, Italy Sales and Business Development Manager of ERP Italia.
Important novelties are soon coming into force for the collection of electric and electronic wastes. In fact, starting from August 15th 2018, the WEEE regulation will encompass all the appliances for which a specific exclusion is not provided for. “The Legislative Decree 49/2014”, underlines Daniela Carriera, Italy Sales and Business Development Manager of ERP Italia, “starting from August 2018 will introduce a wider application ambit, Open Scope, which will significantly broaden the product categories that, as reported in the definition provided by the Decree 49/14, depend on electric currents for their correct operation. We can state that all the appliances for which a specific exclusion is not provided for will be included”.
What are the criteria that can help in defining what “is not WEEE”?
To clear the field from possible wrong interpretations, let us start from our current certainties, according to the exclusion criteria established by the Decree 49/14. In spite of that, the regulation can arouse some doubts that do not help manufacturers in the correct classification of the released products and that it will be necessary to clarify to WEEE ends. With this preliminary remark, you can guess that interpretations can be manifold: therefore, it is necessary that producers turn to collection systems supporting them in the fulfilment of a correct analysis, to avoid errors.
Are other relevant novelties expected?
The scope opening involves relevant novelties: limiting them to the mere introduction of new WEEE into the waste recycling chain would be reductive. The most important novelties will exert an impact for both manufacturers and the entire WEEE system in Italy. The goal of the regulation is reducing the negative environmental impacts deriving from the design and the production of electric and electronic equipment and the production and management of wastes from electric and electronic equipment, taking into account the principle of the extended responsibility of the good manufacturer. Moreover, the positive repercussions will support the circular economy concept. The “scope” opening, in fact, represents a challenge and at the same time a great opportunity for EEE producers: they estimate a considerable rise of the return of secondary raw materials to full benefit of the economy and the environment.
Is it correct to state that the open scope system will concern in particular producers and collection systems and less the resellers specialized in household appliances and electronic products, who in their assortment already deal with products intended for becoming WEEE?
In the earlier phase, the impact will certainly involve more the mentioned subjects but, in cascade, all subjects operating in the chain will be concerned by the impact. Regarding distributors, the extension of the regulation will mean to grant, according to established modalities, the withdrawal of a wider number of typologies of obsolete or worn-out products.
In this phase, what suggestion would you like to give to producers and the other subjects involved in the WEEE chain?
I suggest examining the theme inside their business organization to evaluate all of its aspects, turning to an authoritative Collection System operating on an international scale. ERP Italia, thanks to the organization of which it is part on a world level, too, can manage and satisfy with the necessary timeliness the regulatory conformity requirements that will emerge starting from August 2018. Furthermore, I suggest acting promptly because the steps to be fulfilled to comply with the law are numerous and all absolutely necessary.
What is the relationship between the new European Directive about the Circular Economy, whose definitive text is expected by the end of the year, and the “open scope” system? How do the two regulatory texts mutually integrate?
The European directive about the circular economy can be defined as a real revolution in economic field. The main changes will be mirrored by the ecologic design of products, by the reuse of secondary raw materials and the development of a more sustainable economic consumption model. In this context, a crucial role is played by the several private and institutional players involved, EEE manufacturers: bearing in mind the target to be pursued, imposed by the European Union, an important role is assumed, for instance, by the design upstream the electric and electronic equipment that will be disposed in the future. Another link between the concept of circular and “open scope” economy is the certainty that, with the regulation extension, the introduction of EEE currently excluded will lead to a considerable increase of products that will be necessarily managed with correct recycling processes.
ERP Italia has organized a series of meetings with manufacturing realities, to raise sector players’ awareness of the new WEEE regulation. Will you go on with this initiative?Â
Yes, absolutely, participants’ feedbacks were absolutely positive and this highlights the need of training and answers from sector operators.
