New WEEE and Seveso directives
Revised directives on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and major accident hazards (Seveso III) have been published following final approval by EU ministers.
The recast WEEE directive applies tougher national collection targets
- The existing collection target – at least four kilograms per person from private households – will remain in place until the end of 2015. A minimum rate of 45%, or 40% for new member states, will then apply until the end of 2018.
- From 2019, member states may choose to collect at least 65% of EEE placed on the market or 85% of WEEE generated each year. New member states are allowed to delay compliance until 14 August 2021 if they wish to.
The new Seveso III directive requires
- Riskier “Upper Tier” installations to send a safety report to the competent national authority and issue public emergency response plans by June 2016 (June 2015 if currently in operation).
- Installations built after the deadline, or physically modified to become upper tier, must send a safety report before becoming operational.
- “Upper Tier” installations will have two years to comply with the new requirement.
- All sites will need a major accident prevention policy, which must be drawn up by June 2016 or, for new installations, within a year of entering regulation under the directive.
Member states must transpose transpose the revised WEEE directive and Seveso III into national law by 14 February 2014 and 31 May 2015 respectively
DIRECTIVE 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)