WRITTEN QUESTION E-2097/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (19 June 1997)

Subject: Electronic scrap

1. a) What are the rules governing transport?

1. b) Do these rules prevent recycling where large quantities are involved, as those rules and the small number of centralized installations create problems?

2. a) How much recycling is there of plastics?

2. b) What action does the Commission intend to take to channel valuable plastics into an industrial cycle?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (10 September 1997)

1. a) Regulation (EEC) No 259/93 governs the shipment of waste within, into and out of the Community ((OJ L 30, 6.2.1993. )). Article 1.3a) of the Regulation stipulates that in general the provisions of the Regulation do not apply to shipments of waste which are destined for recovery only and listed in Annex II (green list of wastes). Entry GC 010 of Annex II comprises 'Electrical assemblies consisting only of metals or alloys'. Entry GC 020 comprises 'Electronic scrap (e.g. printed circuit boards, electronic components, wire, etc.) and reclaimed electronic components suitable for base and precious metal recovery'. In the majority of the cases waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) falls under these entries. Therefore, in general the shipment of these wastes is not subject to the provisions of the Regulation (EEC) No 259/93.

As an exception to this rule Article 1.3a) foresees that Article 11 of the Regulation also applies to shipments of waste listed in Annex II destined for recovery. On the basis of this provision these shipments have to be accompanied by information concerning the name and address of the holder, the usual commercial description of the waste, the quantity of the waste, the name and address of the consignee, the operations involving recovery, as listed in Annex II.B to Directive 75/442/EEC on waste ((OJ L 194, 25.7.1975. )), and the anticipated date of shipment.

Two further exceptions to the general exemption of shipments of waste listed in Annex II and destined for recovery from the Regulation (EEC) No 259/93 are:

- the introduction of Annex II which says that 'regardless of whether or not wastes are included on this list, they may not be moved as green wastes if they are contaminated by other materials to an extent which (a) increases the risks associated with the waste sufficiently to render it appropriate for inclusion in the amber or red lists, or (b) prevents the recovery of the waste in an environmentally sound manner';

- the procedure designed for the shipment of waste from the amber or red list may also be applied to the shipment of green list waste to countries which do not belong to the Organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD) if the countries of import wish to have those procedures applied.

The application of the procedure for the shipment of waste of the amber list destined for recovery implies the necessity of prior notification to the authorities as well as an authorization from these authorities. This authorization may be given by implication. Under the red list procedure the authorization has to be given explicitly.

In any case authorities may impose restrictions on import, transit and export for those wastes which are destined for final disposal. This applies to all wastes regardless of their classification.

1. b) Generally, these rules do not prevent recycling where large quantities are involved. The shipment of these wastes may be impeded in those cases where electrical or electronic appliances are contaminated. The choice of the control procedure and possible restrictions to the shipment depends on the authorities of non-OECD countries when wastes are shipped to these countries.

2. a) At present recycling of plastics is not very developed. One reason is that there is still not sufficient material to ensure a steady supply for continued production.

2. b) The Commission is currently examining possibilities for the recycling of plastics.