Introduction

Alternative Management of the Waste of Electric and Electronic Equipment includes the collection, transport, temporary storage, re-use and treatment (recycling and recovery of energy) of WEEE or/and their components and their subassemblies (including their consumables), so that after their re-use or treatment, they are streamed back into the market.

Objectives and target audience

Project’s objectives:
APPLIANCES RECYCLING SA aim’s at the achievement of the National Targets, as these are set by the European Union and the Greek Government, as well as the effective control of the cost of the Alternative Management of WEE.
The quantitative target for the collection and treatment of WEEE is separate collection of at least 4 kg of WEEE of domestic origin on average, per resident per year.  The percentage of re-use and recycling varies from 50% up to 80% -minimum, the average weight per appliance (depending on the category of equipment).
The objectives of separate collection and treatment will be re-determined by the 31st of December 2008.

Target audience: All producers of Electric and Electronic equipment, all private households and all other users.

Financial Resources and Partners involved

The financing of the Alternative Management of the WEEE is accomplished by the contribution fee of recycling that surcharges all new electrical and electronic products that are distributed in the Greek market.  Indebted for the payment of the contribution fee of recycling are the producers of WEEE.
Affiliation with Appliances Recycling S.A. is free of charge.
Producers of Electric and Electronic equipment sign the Entry Agreement, regularly declare the quantities of products marketed in Greece and pay the legally required financial contribution to “Appliances Recycling S.A.” (based upon the declared quantities).
The contribution fee is included in the final price of the product.

Process

The process of Alternative Management of the WEEE includes the following tasks:-

• Collection, Transport and Temporary Storage of WEEE;

• Transport of the WEEE at the Treatment Units;

• Treatment of the WEEE;

• Sensitisation of the Public;

• Administration of the System.

Results

The system covers approximately 67% of the population, and by the end of 2008 it is expected to cover 90 % of the population (estimate).
When supplying a new product, distributors are responsible for ensuring that such waste can be returned to the distributor free of charge on a one-to-one basis, as long as the equipment is of equivalent type and has fulfilled the same functions as the supplied equipment.
The qualified authority, the National Organisation for the Management of Packaging and Other Products, every three (3) years from the issuing date of an Alternative Management System’s of  WEEE approval, is running an audit so that it is ascertained that the methods of alternative management are applied and the objectives are met.
In the event of a positive result of the above audit a Certificate of Alternative Management is published in the name of system.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

A producer has to sign a contract with APPLIANCES RECYCLING SA and each month submit the periodical statement with the quantities of EEE (per product category) that produces, imports or resells.
The distributors are bound to distribute in the market, only EEE items that are affiliated with an approved system of management, as well as to get supplied only from producers that are registered with the producers register (which is required and provided for by the law).
APPLIANCES RECYCLING SA has the permit and is compelled to cover the entire Greek territory.
The benefits of producers that join APPLIANCES RECYCLING SA? Are:-

• Exemption from the obligations that are imposed by the Greek legislation regarding the Alternative Management of WEEE that concerns their activity;

• The right to mark their products with the Special Symbol as a proof of registration with the Collective System for the Alternative Management of the WEEE.