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08 Sep 1998
Friends of the Earth has welcomed progress on a new European law on the recycling of white goods [1], being discussed today at an EU meeting of national experts. Under the new law, instead of being dumped old computers, fridges, TVs and even hair dryers will be repaired or recycled instead. Over 6 million electrical goods are dumped every year in the UK. They make a major contribution to the “toxic time-bombs” that are our thousands of rubbish tips.
The new law will require:
. the recycling of up to 90 per cent of electrical products,
. a partial phase-out of toxic substances such as lead and mercury, and chemicals added to plastics which have recently been shown to damage the brains of mice [2].
Manufacturers will have to foot the bill for the new law. This will give them a powerful incentive to design products for easier reuse, repair and recycling.
Friends of the Earth wants to strengthen the new law to ensure goods are made to last, through new requirements such as labelling with their expected lives, and free extended guarantees.
Commenting, Dr Anna Thomas of Friends of the Earth said:
“We should design products for recycling not dumping. This law would be an excellent start. It could be even better if it required products to be made to last.Nobody wants to buy something which falls apart a few weeks after they get it home. This new law will be good for the environment and good for the consumer”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] Proposal for a Directive on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment - Second Draft
[2] Paper on brominated flame retardants, presented to Dioxin 98 Conference by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
Contact details:
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LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
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