WEEE Roundtable
3rd Dec 2009
Tony RobertsFounder & Chief ExecComputer Aid International
Background on Computer Aid
100% non-profit re-use (no re-sale)
Redistribution of technological wealth to DCs
100s of development applications
160,000+ PCs to 110 different countries
Over 5 million kilos of EEE responsibly reused / recycled
What WEEE Done
1st public briefing on WEEE at House of Lords in 2004
Published two WEEE Guides for Business in 2004 & 2007
Worked with FRN since 2005, submissions to consultations
Lobbied effectively for the prioritisation of re-use over recycling
1st non-profit - EA licensed AATF – June 2007
Lobbied for the Environment Agency to be afforded the resources it needed to pursue the eWaste Cowboys
WEEE experience
Greater CIO awareness of environment issues
WEEE Directive did not lead to the expected large increase in donation of IT for re-use
Partnered with PCSs - still waiting for PCs!
Most significant growth area was scam ‘re-use’ & associated dumping
Prospect of prosecution remote
No reliable data on toxic trade volumes
Guiyu, China
Shared Aims
Zero export of untreated WEEE
Divert all EEE & WEEE into EA licensed & inspected responsible re-use & environment recycling orgs
Promote responsible re-use clear environmental & developmental benefits
Prosecute the eWaste cowboys
Computer Aid opposes lobby for sending EEE-WEEE for refurbishing overseas
Objectives
Enforceable definitions of ‘waste’ & ‘refurbished’
British Standard for refurbishing
Move from ‘prioritising re-use’ to increased re-use by setting targets & publishing results
Secure additional resources for Environment Agency to end sham re-use
WEEE-type legislation
Extend WEEE-type legislation to EVERY country
Zero import/export of WEEE Zero dumping of WEEE domestically Promote EEE re-use Compel WEEE recycling domestically Build local re-use & recycling capacity Extend Producer Pays Principal
Internationally
Thank You
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