Electronic Waste

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 25. Chapters: Agbogbloshie, Computer liquidator, Digger gold, Disposable camera, E-Stewards, E-waste village, Electronic waste in Japan, MyGreenElectronics, Recycle Your Media, Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, Solving the E-waste Problem, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, World Reuse, Repair and Recycling Association. Excerpt: The Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment 2002/95/EC (commonly referred to as the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive or RoHS) was adopted in February 2003 by the European Union. The RoHS directive took effect on 1 July 2006, and is required to be enforced and become law in each member state. This directive restricts (with exceptions) the use of six hazardous materials in the manufacture of various types of electronic and electrical equipment. It is closely linked with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) 2002/96/EC which sets collection, recycling and recovery targets for electrical goods and is part of a legislative initiative to solve the problem of huge amounts of toxic e-waste. In speech, RoHS is often spelled out, or pronounced,, or . Each European Union member state will adopt its own enforcement and implementation policies using the directive as a guide. RoHS is often referred to as the lead-free directive, but it restricts the use of the following six substances: PBB and PBDE are flame retardants used in several plastics. Hexavalent chromium is used in chrome plating, chromate coatings and primers, and in chromic acid. The maximum permitted concentrations in non-exempt products are 0.1% or 1000 ppm (except for cadmium, which is limited to 0.01% or 100 ppm) by weight. The restrictions are on each homogeneous material in the product, which means that the...