RoHS & WEEE

RoHS Directive (2002/95/EC)

RoHS Compliancy relates to the restrictions of hazardous substances used in electrical and electronic equipment. The directive took effect on 1^st July 2006 and restricts the usage of six hazardous materials in the manufacturer of various types of electronic and electrical equipment.

RoHS can often be referred to as the lead-free directive, but it restricts the following six substances:

The maximum permitted concentrations are 0.1% or 1000 ppm (except for cadmium, which is limited to 0.01% or 100 ppm) by weight of homogeneous material.

RoHS Implementation

Origin has taken steps to ensure that none of the products it manufacturers or procures contain any of the substances outlined in the RoHS Directive, with the exception of Batteries. Batteries are exempt from the RoHS directive due to their chemical makeup, however a new seperate Battery Directive is expected to come into effect sometime soon. As new directives come into effect Origin will continue its responsibility to ensure 100% compliance.

Source: Wikipedia

WEEE Directive (2002/96/EC)

The European Commission’s WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive makes manufacturers responsible for taking back and recycling the large majority of electric and electronic equipment products. Beginning on August 13^th 2005, the manufacturers have been required to bear the cost burden of the collection and recycling of their products sold in the EU.

Under the WEEE Regulations, all new electrical goods should now be marked with the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol shown to show that they were produced after 13^th August 2005, and should be disposed of separately from normal household waste so that they can be recycled.

The amount of WEEE we throw away is increasing by around 5% each year, making it the fastest growing waste stream in the UK.

Correct Disposal

As a responsible company we offer all of our customers who purchased electronic goods from us FREE recycling. Simply contact us using the subject “WEEE Disposal”. We will then send you information on where to send your goods so they may be disposed of correctly.

Alternatively you can dispose of electronic waste at authorised waste management sites. This website has a list of all the recycling plants in the UK and where you can find them: UK Recycling Plants.

Source: WEEE (Environment Directorate-General of the European Commission)