New rules on electrical waste come into force

Malta has to substantially increase its collection targets of electronic waste, such as these old computers.

Malta must step up efforts to comply with stricter EU rules on electronic waste, which entered into force this week.

Malta has to substantially increase its collection targets of electronic waste, such as these old computers.

“The directive also gives states tools to fight the illegal export of ‘e-waste’”

The EU has an e-waste collection target of four kilograms per capita, representing about two million tons per year. According to the latest available statistics in 2008, Malta was only collecting 0.05 kg per inhabitant.

The new rules aim to increase the collection of electrical and electronic equipment and also to police illegal shipments, still considered to be very high.

Although Malta has managed to negotiate a better deal than other member states, due to the fact that its experience in this area is still relatively new, it will still have to substantially increase its collection targets.

Malta has only recently started separating and exporting e-waste and civic amenity sites have been developed around the island through the use of EU funds.

According to a new directive, by February 2014 all member states will have to amend their existing legislation and align it with the new rules and targets.

As a general rule, from 2016 onwards, member states will be required to ensure that 45 per cent of electrical and electronic equipment sold in each country is collected, while two years later the scope of the directive is widened to include all categories of all electrical and electronic equipment.

Malta will have until 2022 to achieve these targets. The new directive also gives the member states the tools to fight the illegal export of e-waste more effectively.

Illegal shipments of e-waste are a serious problem, especially when these are disguised as shipments of used equipment to circumvent EU waste treatment rules.

The new directive will oblige exporters to test whether equipment works or not, and provide documents on the nature of shipments that could be thought illegal.

Currently only one third of e-waste is separately collected in the EU.