Simplified, RoHS only applies to equipment that requires electricity, with a voltage rating not exceeding 1’000Vac and 1’500Vdc, to perform its primary function. The categories and products given in the WEEE Directive in Annexes IA and IB include:

1.       Large household appliances

2.       Small household appliances

3.       IT and telecommunications equipment

4.       Consumer equipment

5.       Lighting equipment

6.       Electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools)

7.       Toys, leisure and sports equipment

8.       Medical devices (with the exception of all implanted and infected products)*

9.       Monitoring and control instruments*

10.     Automatic dispensers

*) Currently exempt from RoHS requirements, but will eventually be regulated.

Military Application - no reference is made in the RoHS Directive, but the Commission considers that RoHS is broadly reflected in WEEE, and as such this exemption applies to both Directives.

Spare Parts - there is a common misconception that all spare parts are exempt from the legislation. This exemption only applies to spare parts for equipment manufactured before 1st July 2006.

 

 

In 1998, six million tons of waste electrical and electronic equipment were generated (4% of the municipal waste stream). The growth of this waste is about three times higher than the growth of the average municipal waste. Due to its hazardous content, electrical and electronic equipment can cause major environmental problems during the waste management phase if not properly pre-treated. As more than 90% of WEEE (Waste of Electrical & Electronic Equipment) is deposited in landfills, incinerated or recovered without any pre-treatment, a large proportion of various pollutants found in the municipal waste stream comes from this electronic waste. The WEEE and ROHS directives aim to promote recycling, as well as the elimination, of a number of hazardous substances (including lead) from electronic equipment.

Lead is recognised as one of the most significant environmental health threats to humans, especially to pregnant women, infants, and children up to six years of age.

The lead used in electronics accounts for less than 2% of total world consumption, with batteries accounting for 90%. Only 40% of the amount of lead in landfills is from WEEE, but of that, only 4% is from lead in PCBs while 36% is due to the use of leaded glass in monitors and televisions. For example, the CRT in a TV can contain 2 kg of lead. Hence, the elimination of lead used within power electronics is an insignificant factor compared to total global lead usage.