Definition
Electrical and electronic equipments (EEE) are equipments that function using electrical currents or electromagnetic fields, and equipments used for the production, transfer and measurement of these currents and fields, designed to be used with voltage not exceeding 1,000 volts of alternating current and 1,500 volts of direct current.
They are grouped in 6 categories:
- Temperature exchange equipments
For example: ovens, heating systems, etc.
- Screens, monitors and equipements containing screens having a surface greater than 100 cm2
- Lamps
- Large equipments with any external dimension more than 50 cm
For example: household appliances, IT and telecommunication equipments, consumer equipments, luminaires, equipments reproducing sound or images, musical equipments, electrical and electronic tools, toys, leisure and sports equipments, medical devices, monitoring and control instruments, automatic dispensers, equipments for the generation of electric currents, etc.
- Small equipments with external dimensions less than 50 cm
For example: household appliances, consumer equipments, luminaires, equipments reproducing sound or images, musical equipments, electrical and electronic tools, toys, leisure and sports equipments, medical devices, monitoring and control instruments, automatic dispensers, equipments for the generation of electric currents, etc..
- Small IT and telecommunication equipments with external dimensions less than 50 cm
For example: phones, tablets, computers etc.
The definition of waste of EEE (WEEE) uses the standard definition of waste, that is the disposal of these objects by their owner.
Obligations and controls
EEE placed on the market must not contain any (or only an amount less than the thresholds defined by Grand-Ducal regulations) of the following substances:
- lead
- mercury
- cadmium
- hexavalent chrome
- polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)
- polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE).
The same applies for cables and components used for their repair or reuse, or to update their functionalities or strengthen their capacity.
There are however a number of exceptions and exemptions for different products.
Producers and importers of EEE established in the Luxembourg territory or abroad but who sell directly to users in Luxembourg, due to the WEEE separate collection obligation, are required to freely take back used EEE or WEEE and participate in their processing, reuse and disposal either individually or through a collective EEE waste management system and the payment of a recycling fee.
Imports, exports and intra-Community movements of EEE waste meet the same requirements as problematic waste.
Manufacturers must establish technical documentation to accompany products, draft an EU compliance declaration and carry out the CE marking of the product. Moreover, the EEE must be marked with the symbol of the crossed-out waste bin.
The Luxembourg Institute of Standardization, Accreditation, Safety and Quality of Products and Services (ILNAS) as well as the Environment Agency are in charge of product conformity inspections.
Importers and distributors must perform due diligence and ensure that manufacturers have met their obligations. When an importer or distributor places EEE on the market in its own name or under its own brand, or modifies EEE already on the market, it is considered as a manufacturer and must comply with the same requirements.
For the management of WEEE, producers or third parties acting on their behalf can decide to meet their obligations for the collection, processing, financing and reuse of waste individually, and in this case they must be registered with the Environment Agency. If they choose a collective system to meet these obligations (to which they will pay an eco-participation fee), this latter must be authorized by the Minister of Environment. The compliance scheme then registers its members with the Environment Agency.
Related documents
In the event of a transfer of used EEE, if this equipment is not considered as waste, it must be accompanied by an invoice or sale contract, proof of an evaluation or trial (for proper functioning) and statement from the owner indicating that it is not waste. The device must be packaged in a manner that will protect it during transport. Lacking such packaging, it may be considered as waste.
Producers or importers who decide to use an individual waste collection system must present an annual report to the Environment Agency indicating the quantities and types of EEE placed on the market as well as the quantities of waste reused or recycled.
Related procedures
The following procedure is described on the Guichet.lu website:
Related organizations
The Environment Agency is the market supervisory authority. It also delivers authorizations for waste transporters, collectors, traders and brokers.
A collaboration agreement was signed between the Environment Agency and the Luxembourg Institute of Standardization, Accreditation, Safety and Quality of Products and Services (ILNAS) in order to provide more effective controls of the marketing of non-food products and to prevent the entry and free circulation of non-compliant products on the national and European territory.
Ecotrel is the only compliance scheme in Luxembourg for the collective management of WEEE.