Take-back schemes

Logistics of e-waste collection commonly involve three channels. Municipal collection sites usually accept any amount of waste from citizens, without cost. In-store retailer take-back schemes may be free or depend on repeat purchases. Direct producer take-back is generally for business customers and may require a replacement purchase. 

On the other hand, disposal of leftover drugs into sewers has received considerable attention since few years ago, in Europe, take-back schemes for unused or... 

Nowadays, 20 European countries have a dmg take-back scheme in place [130]. Some of the schemes, particularly those in Erance and Sweden, are well established and successful. However, many of the more recent schemes do not appear, as yet, to be very effective [129]. 

Several companies have operated voluntary take-back schemes before regulation for used computers (Dell, IBM), cartridges from copying machines (Xerox) or even sports shoes (Nike). 

National campaigns aimed at improving resource efficiency, retaUer-backed and incentivised take-back schemes, as well as growing consumer awareness particularly amongst the Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) demographic, that... 

Retailers and distributors must provide free in-store take back schemes of WEEE and inform the general public of this facility. 

Today important flows of plastics originate in mandatory recycling schemes, such as those imposed by take-back obligations on packaging, End-of life vehicles, or waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE). For such materials, the drive for collection and recycling is not normally economic, but mandatory. In snch cases, there is often a dump fee, to be paid for farther processing a stream of waste plastics into recycled products. The value of such fees varies from some 50 /tonne for injection into blast fnmaces in the European Community to as much as 50-100 kYen ( 370-750 /tonne)... 

When a general collection scheme is operated, Ni-Cd batteries are sorted-out from other zinc and lithium batteries either manually or automatically (Euro Bat Tri 2000). The collection efficiency of portable rechargeable batteries is immediately increased when such a general collection scheme is implemented. Indeed, such an approach responds to consumer s requirements for a single message on the take back of all batteries. 

Austrian law requires retailers and wholesalers to take back used batteries from consumers free of charge. Municipalities are also obliged to accept used batteries from private citizens. Battery manufacturers and importers have established an organisation called Umweltforum Batterien (UFB) to administer the scheme for collection. It can handle sorting and disposal or recycling of batteries. 

Spent NiCd batteries are, when incinerated or disposed of in landfills, a source of heavy cadmium emissions. An EU Directive, 2000/60/EC, recommended that the use of 32 chemicals should be phased out within 20 years. According to the recommendation, NiCd batteries should be banned from 2008. The recommendation of 2000 was, however, moderated in 2001. Instead of banning NiCd batteries, new take-back systems and deposit schemes should be developed in order to reduce the risk to human health and the environment. 

In addition to antisurge control, it is common to have a surge recovery scheme. This relies on the detection of rapid changes in pressure or flow and then overrides the antismge scheme to fully open the recycle valve. It can also increase the safety margin used by the antisurge controller so that, when the antisurge scheme is permitted to take back control, the same situation should not recur. 

The proposal contains only general requirements for national WEEE collection schemes, and Member States are free to allow producers to set up and operate individual and/or collective take-back systems. 

United Kingdom No government mandated schemes for WEEE take-back and recycling pending the adoption of the WEEE Directive Electronic industry association works to promote responsible management of WEEE at end-of-life Producers, importers required to set up management authorities for collection/recycling of WEEE... 

As for historical waste, the Decree states that manufacturers have collective responsibility, shared with municipalities. An old for new scheme also applies to manufacturers, importers, and suppliers until January 2005. In practice, manufacturers or importers, when delivering a new product to a supplier are required to take-back a similar product, irrespective of its brand. Thus, suppliers will not have to cover disposal costs for orphaned equipment taken back from end users. Municipalities are responsible for the disposal of historical waste which they collected. 

Manufacturers and importers must be authorized by the Environment Ministry as to how they will perform their take-back obligations in practice. The Decree allows manufacturers and importers to fulfill their obligations jointly by (1) setting up a joint disposal scheme via a joint notification subject to ministerial approval) or (2) concluding a covenant with the Environment Minister. The Explanatory Memorandum to the Decree specifies that if a covenant contains agreements that conflict with national and European competition rules, these covenants will not... 

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