Getting rid of old PC's (they don't work and have been water damaged)

[Jobos]

Got this emailed through a while ago...

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Disposal of Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment – The WEEE Regulations

If you bought equipment before 13 August 2005, and are going to replace it with new equipment
then the producer of the new equipment is responsible for the collection, treatment and recycling of
the old equipment, regardless of whether they were the original manufacturer.

If you bought the equipment before 13 August 2005 and are not replacing it, then you are
responsible for financing and arranging treatment in accordance with the WEEE regulations and
existing waste management legislation.

If you bought the equipment after 13 August 2005, then the producer of the equipment is
responsible for its collection, treatment and recycling when you eventually dispose of it, regardless of
whether it is being replaced or not.
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Has anyone actually seen this take place as I can’t imagine a foreign equipment producer bothering to collect a load of scrap.

[Kipling]

Has anyone actually seen this take place as I can’t imagine a foreign equipment producer bothering to collect a load of scrap.

My thoughts exactly, it’s flannel.

Imagine trying to convince Acorn-computing that they have to come and collect that old BBC that you’ve found at the back of a cupboard in the admin office!

It’s ridiculous.

[synaesthesia]

But it's very handy to get morons like Comet and Dixons out to get rid of that fridge that's packed up. Often you just get "why should we have to do that?"
"Well, sir, it's the law. You can do it, or I can take action against you, which would you prefer"

WEEE's regulations are very hazy at best. Worked for 2 years at the UK's biggest WEEE licensed company which unfortunately went under last year due to gross-mismanagement. We also had the only hardware in the country with which to granulate and separate the plastics etc. All has changed a bit now, there's far more operators about. And if the regulations were set in stone a bit more, we'd have had no trouble turning a profit, even with the management squandering money where it didn't need squandering.

Too many of these laws just aren't clear enough IMO. Also shocks me how many people aren't aware of the compulsory 2 year warranty on electrical consumer goods and end up forking out good money for repairs when there's absolutely no need.

[laserblazer]

I shifted a load of Viglen Contenders on our local Freecycle Group. I'd kept the original W98 installation disks so I just zeroed the drives and supplied them as seen. A big batch went to a disabled school where they train kids to work on computers. So it was good to see them go to a good home.

[Ric_]

My thoughts exactly, it’s flannel.

Imagine trying to convince Acorn-computing that they have to come and collect that old BBC that you’ve found at the back of a cupboard in the admin office!

It’s ridiculous.

IIRC the company responsible for disposal can charge a fee for the transport and administration involved as long as it is 'reasonable'.

[enjay]

@Kipling. That may be the case, but they're not required to do that for free - they can charge a "reasonable fee for logistics". RM ask something daft like £7 per PC.

[Kipling]

I see, that makes more sense.

But then it becomes a futile regulation really; there’s no real onus on the producers as they can simply price themselves out of the game so it becomes your own problem again.
Luckily private firms fill the gap.

[enjay]

But then it becomes a futile regulation really; there’s no real onus on the producers

I don't see why the onus for responsible disposal should lie with the producers. There are regulations in place to control what materials they use (e.g. ROHS), and having the disposal/recycling of equipment handled by a small(er) number of specialised companies has got to be better than making every producer have its own recycling facilities. Let's face it - even if we did make every producer take the stuff back, they would only outsource to a recycling company, so why not have the consumers/end-users deal directly with that company?

[dalsoth]

Just skimmed the thread. Found this company on these forums only recently. Appears they collect all of this and more for free in the UK if you are a school or college. Have not used them yet but will once we get more stuff together.

DNA I.T Recycling - Home of Free collections! - Home