Waste electrical and electronic equipment is one of the fastest growing waste streams. Here, Sergio Tartaglia, team manager within the ambient quality and waste unit at era, explains this in further detail and tells us why, as consumers, we should care about such waste.
It only takes a power cut for us to realise how dependent we are on electricity: everything from our beauty regimes to our jobs requires and exploits it. But, while we can’t imagine life without such equipment, our relationship with it can be very volatile, turning the latest must-have smartphone into unwanted rubbish seemingly overnight.
Electrical and electronic equipment, commonly referred to as EEE, is any type of equipment that depends on, measures, generates or transfers electricity. Just imagine that, in Malta, over 12,000 tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment is placed on the market each and every year, but that leads to one very pertinent question: What is Malta doing to ensure that waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is disposed of in an environmentally-sound manner?
“WEEE is one of the fastest growing waste streams, especially when considering the rapid pace of technology,” says Sergio, who forms part of the energetic team at the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) in charge of drafting and implementing waste policies including those related to WEEE.
“Yet, it is also a valuable resource. So, both to safeguard the environment and to make the most of what we have, it is our responsibility to ensure that EEE waste is recovered. This is in line with Malta’s vision to adopt a circular economy approach, which also follows that of the European Union. That is, to implement concrete actions covering the whole cycle: from production and consumption to waste management.”
At present, Malta’s collection target is of 50 per cent of what is put out on the market each year. Current trends indicate that we are managing to collect around three kilograms of WEEE per inhabitant per year and the volumes collected every year are on the increase, indicating the efforts and will to achieve the ambitious target of 65 per cent by 2021.
What many may not know, however, is that the responsibility of collecting WEEE falls onto the producers – mainly importers – as part of their extended producer responsibility. To do this, ERA gives producers two options: the first, is for them to individually fulfil their obligations; or else to join one of the authorised WEEE Compliance Schemes, namely WEEE Malta Ltd or WEEE Recycle. The Schemes provide a service to producers, assisting them to collect the required WEEE and to fulfil their obligations under law.
All that may seem relatively straight forward – and, in theory, it is – but there’s more to it than that.
In 2014, the Government introduced the new Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive into national legislation. That, however, meant a double obligation on producers of EEE, who were obliged to pay the Eco-Contribution and recover waste individually or as part of a collective compliance scheme. To amend this, in 2015, the national WEEE Reform phased out the eco-contribution on white goods, thus strengthening the implementation of the WEEE Regulations. The removal of the eco-contribution got onboard a good number of producers, increasing the registered producers with ERA from around 150 to 700.
Under the current WEEE Regulations, importers and producers need to register electronic items put on the local market, and include specifics such as quantities, categories, and brand. In turn, this helps ERA and the Government understand how much is going out into the market and how much is being disposed and collected for treatment.
“This sector calls for continuous monitoring and enforcement of regulations by ERA. Through the available information and awareness about the disposal of WEEE, the general public can also contribute to protect our environment and can help ensure that electronic equipment is disposed of and collected through the right channels,” Sergio adds.
When asked for the best way the public could help, Sergio replies: “Firstly, always try to get in touch with your retailer to see if your object could be repaired. Secondly, try not to hoard any old electronics, as some parts or components could be recycled to repair or create new equipment. Thirdly, don’t abandon any WEEE or throw it into the black bag. WEEE components may contain hazardous elements and, thus, incorrect disposal can be detrimental to the environment and to the human health. Instead, take it to your nearest Civic Amenity site or, if it’s bulky, call your local council for a free pick-up. And, finally, you can also check with the retailer on how you can return any WEEE when purchasing equipment similar to the one being discarded.”
The latter is a very important point as, over the coming weeks, a new amendment in the official regulations will mean that anyone caught throwing any form of WEEE in their black bag will be fined €100 per piece (i.e. throwing an old phone out with the trash could cost you €100).
“Moreover, as part of the Waste Management Plan for the Maltese Islands, the Government is continuing its Don’t Waste Waste Campaign, which kicked off in 2016. Led by the Ministry for Environment, Sustainable Development, and Climate Change in collaboration with WasteServ Malta and executed with ERA’s support, the campaign aims to reduce the amount of waste we dispose of irresponsibly or in the black bag.”
As part of the campaign, the website dontwastewaste.gov.mt was launched, offering hints and tips on how to better separate waste, what to do with unwanted things, and why it’s so important to dispose of responsibly.
“Recently, we also celebrated International E-Waste Day [13 October], which focused on raising awareness on WEEE collection and recycling, as well as on encourage consumers to dispose of their WEEE in a correct manner. Locally, a number of initiatives were organised by the Government and all the relevant key stakeholders, for which ERA, as part of its corporate social responsibility, installed on its premises a specific bin for the separate collection of small electronic waste, as well as a battery bin.”
To continue in its mission, ERA, as well as all the other key stakeholders in the WEEE fora, meet on a regular basis to discuss progress, problems and come up with innovative ideas and, hence, reap positive results for the benefit of our country and our environment. In fact, while there is undoubtedly a long way to go, this is one area in which all parties involved take their role incredibly seriously. The question is, though: Will you help achieve the targets?
To find out more about the WEEE Directive or ERA, please visit http://era.org.mt
Hexagon House, Spencer Hill, Marsa, MRS 1441
Tel: (+356) 2292 3500
Email: info@era.org.mt