WEEE Directive
The objectives of the WEEE legislation directive (Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on waste electrical and electronic equipment) are:
Objectives:
(1) To prevent the generation of electrical and electronic waste and to promote reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery in order to reduce the quantity of such waste to be eliminated, whilst also improving the environmental performance of economic operators involved in its treatment.
(2) To approximate the laws of the Member States on restricting the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment in order to contribute to the recovery and elimination of equipment waste and the protection of human health.
Scope:
This Directive applies to the following categories of electrical and electronic equipment: 
(a) large and small household appliances;
(b) IT and telecommunications equipment;
(c) consumer equipment;
(d) lighting equipment;
(e) electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools);
(f) toys, leisure and sports equipment;
(g) medical devices (with the exception of implanted and infected products);
(h) monitoring and control instruments;
(i) Automatic dispensers.
Product Design:
Member States are to encourage the design and production of electrical and electronic equipment which take into account and facilitate dismantling and recovery, in particular the reuse and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Separate Collection
Member States are to minimize the disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) as unsorted municipal waste and are to set up separate collection systems for WEEE. In the case of electrical and electronic waste, Member States are to ensure that, as from 13 August 2005:
(1) final holders and distributors can return such waste free of charge;
(2) distributors of new products ensure that waste of the same type of equipment can be returned to them free of charge on a one-to-one basis;
(3) producers are allowed to set up and operate individual or collective take-back systems;
(4)The return of contaminated waste presenting a risk to the health and safety of personnel may be refused.
Producers must make provision for the collection of waste which is not from private households. Member States must ensure that all waste electrical and electronic equipment is transported to authorised treatment facilities. By 31 December 2006 at the latest, a rate of separate collection of at least 4 kg on average per inhabitant per year of waste electrical and electronic equipment from private households must be achieved. A new target rate to be set at a later date is to be achieved by 31 December 2008.
Treatment:
Producers of electrical and electronic equipment must apply the best available treatment, recovery and recycling techniques. Such treatment is to include the removal of fluids and selective treatment in accordance with Annex II to the Directive. Waste treatment and storage must be in conformity with Annex III to the Directive.
Establishments responsible for treatment operations must obtain a permit from the competent authorities. They are encouraged to participate in the Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS).
Treatment operations may also be undertaken outside the Member State concerned, or even outside the Community, subject to compliance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 259/93 on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community. Treatment outside the Community only count for the fulfillment of the targets of the Directive if the exporter can prove that treatment operations took place under conditions that are equivalent to the requirements of this Directive.
Recovery:
Producers must set up systems for the recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment collected separately.
By 31 December 2006, the rate of recovery by an average weight per appliance must be at least 80% in the case of large domestic appliances and automatic dispensers, 70% in the case of small domestic appliances, lighting equipment, electrical and electronic tools, toys, leisure and sports equipment and monitoring and control instruments, and 75% in the case of IT and telecommunications equipment and consumer equipment. By the same date, the rate of component, material and substance reuse and recycling by an average weight per appliance must be at least 80% in the case of discharge lamps, 75% in the case of large domestic appliances and automatic dispensers, 50% in the case of small domestic appliances, lighting equipment, electrical and electronic tools, toys, leisure and sports equipment and monitoring and control equipment, and 65% in the case of IT and telecommunications equipment and consumer equipment.
By 13 August 2004, the Commission is to lay down the rules on compliance with the rates specified above. Producers must state the weight of the electrical and electronic waste entering and leaving treatment and recovery or recycling facilities. By 31 December 2008, the European Parliament and the Council are to set new targets for recovery, recycling and reuse.
Financing
By 13 August 2005, producers must provide for the financing of the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment. In the case of products placed on the market later than 13 August 2005, each producer is responsible for providing financing in respect of his own products. When a producer places a product on the market, he must furnish a guarantee concerning the financing of the management of his waste. Such a guarantee may take the form of participation by the producer in financing schemes, a recycling insurance or a blocked bank account. In the case of products placed on the market before 13 August 2005 ('historical waste'), financing is to be provided by the producers existing on the market, who are, for instance, to contribute proportionately to their share of the market.
By 13 August 2005, financing is to be covered by producers in the case of waste from holders other than private households and placed on the market after that date. In the case of waste from products placed on the market before 13 August 2005, management costs are to be borne by producers. However, Member States may provide that users be made responsible, partly or totally, for this financing.
WEEE LEGISLATION DIRECTIVE
RoHS Directive
Objectives:
RoHS, also known as Lead-Free, stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC restricts the use of six hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products. From July 2006 producers will have to show that their products do not contain more than maximum permitted levels of : 
Lead
Mercury
Cadmium
hexavalent chromium
polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
All applicable products in the EU market after July 1, 2006 must pass RoHS compliance. RoHS impacts the entire electronics industry.
Scope:
The following product categories are impacted under the RoHS Directive:
Large household appliances: refrigerators, washers, stoves, air conditioners
Small household appliances: vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, coffee makers, irons
Computing & communications equipment: computers, printers, copiers, phones
Consumer electronics: TVs, DVD players, stereos, video cameras
Lighting: lamps, lighting fixtures, light bulbs
Power tools: drills, saws, nail guns, sprayers, lathes, trimmers, blowers
Toys and sports equipment: videogames, electric trains, treadmills
Automatic dispensers: vending machines, ATM machines
The following products are currently exempted from RoHS compliance:
Large stationary industrial tools 
Control and monitoring equipment
National security use and military equipment
Medical devices
Some light bulbs and some batteries
Spare parts for electronic equipment in the market before July 1, 2006
Product Design
RoHS directive will have a significant impact on product design as it affects many of the current materials and components being used in existing enclosure products. The designer may have to find cost effective and safe alternatives for the restricted substances. Even though many of alternatives are available, they still have to be identified and evaluated before incorporating them into the production lines.
It is also essential that the functional performance of the product is not degraded or legal requirements and product safety issues are not compromised. The use of substitute materials may also have a significant impact on existing manufacturing processes.
RoHS Compliance Testing
RoHS specifies maximum levels for the following six restricted materials:
Mercury (Hg): 100 ppm 
Lead (Pb): 1000 ppm
Cadmium (Cd): 100 ppm
Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB): 1000 ppm
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE): 1000 ppm
Hexavalent Chromium (CrVI): 1000 ppm
RoHS compliance testing can be carried out using portable RoHS analyzers known as x-ray fluorescence or XRF metal analyzers, such from Niton and Innov-X Systems.
Establish Compliance Status of Products:
(1) Analyse Bill of Material (BOMs) to identify parts purchased and suppliers;
(2) Review material and component content of products to identify potential presence of restricted substances;
(3) Provide means for suppliers to complete the declarations of substance concentration level in agreed format;
(4) Collect substance concentration date from supply chain;
(5) Identify homogeneous materials in products; 
(6) Analyse supply chain data;
(7) Identify non-compliances;
(8) Define allowable thresholds for suppliers
(9) Obtain supplier material declarations.
RoHS Directive
Basel Convention
Definition :
A global agreement, ratified by several member countries and the European Union (see Status of Ratification), for addressing the problems and challenges posed by hazardous waste. The Secretariat, in Geneva, Switzerland, facilitates the implementation of the Convention and related agreements. It also provides assistance and guidelines on legal and technical issues, gathers statistical data, and conducts training on the proper management of hazardous waste. The Secretariat is administered by UNEP.
Key Objectives:
to minimize the generation of hazardous wastes in terms of quantity and hazardousness;
to dispose of them as close to the source of generation as possible;
To reduce the movement of hazardous wastes.
Categories of Hazardous Waste are covered by the Convention:
Toxic 
Poisonous
Explosive
Corrosive
Flammable
Ecotoxic
Infectious
The Goal of Minimizing Hazardous Wastes
A central goal of the Basel Convention is “environmentally sounds management” (ESM), the aim of which is to protect human health and the environment by minimizing hazardous waste production whenever possible. ESM means addressing the issue through an “integrated life-cycle approach”, which involves strong controls from the generation of a hazardous waste to its storage, transport, treatment, reuse, recycling, recovery and final disposal.
Many companies have already demonstrated that “cleaner production” methods which eliminate or reduce hazardous outputs can be both economically and environmentally efficient. The United Nations Environment Programmes (UNEP) Division on Technology, Industry and Economics works to identify and disseminate “best practices” http://www.unepie.org.In the coming decade, more emphasis will be placed on creating partnerships with industry and research institutions to create innovative approaches to ESM. One of the most critical aspects of ESM is lowering demand for products and services that result in hazardous by-products. Consumers need to educate themselves as to the methods used in production processes and think about what they buy every day.
An Overview of Compliance and Enforcement
The Basel Convention contains specific provisions for the monitoring of implementation and compliance. A number of articles in the Convention oblige Parties (national governments which have acceded to the Convention) to take appropriate measures to implement and enforce its provisions, including measures to prevent and punish conduct in contravention of the Convention.
Basel Convention
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