Background – What is the WEEE Directive?
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive (2002/96/EC) is a European Union (EU) Directive, which was introduced to promote the collection and environmentally responsible management (disposal) of WEEE by the "producer" where the "producer" is defined as: a company that manufactures and sells Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) under their own brand; a reseller of EEE produced by other suppliers under their own brand; an importer or exporter of EEE on a professional basis into a member state.
Together with its twin directive, the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive, the WEEE Directive became law in Europe in January 2003. Today, WEEE sets collection, recycling and recovery targets for WEEE across the EU. The WEEE Directive requires that "producers" take responsibility for the financing, treatment, recovery and disposal of WEEE arising from the sale of electrical and electronic equipment "put on the market" (POTM) on or after 13-August-2005. In addition if the sale of EEE results in the disposal of old or legacy equipment, which is termed "historic" WEEE (i.e. EEE POTM before the 13-August-2005), then the "producer" is responsible for the financing, treatment, recovery and disposal of "historic" WEEE associated with this legacy product. In the case of "historic" WEEE where no replacement is purchased, the customer is responsible for the disposal of the WEEE. The WEEE Directive requires that all 27 EU member states transpose its provisions into national law. As of 01-July 2007, all EU Member States (except Malta) had adopted regulations in this area.
Avaya’s Commitment
Avaya is committed to minimizing the environmental impact of our products by using environmentally-focused policies and practices in the design, manufacture, support and disposal of our solutions.
What Avaya Customers Can Expect
All Avaya products that were POTM since 13-August-2005 have been labeled with the crossed-out wheeled bin (reference the crossed-out wheeled bin attachment below). The WEEE crossed-out wheeled bin has a black bar underneath it (i.e. a timing mark), which indicates that the product was POTM on or after 13-August 2005.
In general, for direct sales to customers where the electrical and electronic equipment was "put on the market" on or after 13-August 2005, the customer is responsible for returning the WEEE to Avaya at their cost and Avaya will then dispose of the WEEE in accordance with the applicable legislation.
Avaya will also dispose of "historic" WEEE on a one-for-one basis, provided the customer's "historic" WEEE is replaced with Avaya EEE. In general, indirect sales to customers through Business Partners (BP), distributors and resellers falls into two categories as follows: if the BP, distributor or reseller resides in a particular EU member state and sells Avaya EEE to a third party, in the same EU member state, then the BP, distributor or reseller, as importer of the EEE into the EU member state, is viewed as being the "producer" of the EEE and by law is responsible for the take back and the disposal of WEEE; if the BP, distributor or reseller resides in a particular EU member state and sells Avaya EEE to a third party, in a different EU member state than the BP, distributor or reseller, then the third party, as importer of the EEE into the different EU member state is viewed as being the "producer" of the EEE and by law is responsible for the take back and disposal of WEEE.
The two categories above are based on the fact that Avaya is part of a collective take back scheme in the EU member state being discussed. In countries where Avaya is part of an individual take back scheme (e.g. in Austria, France, Germany and Ireland), the BP, distributor or reseller is responsible for returning the WEEE to Avaya at their cost and Avaya will then take responsibility for the disposal of the WEEE in accordance with the applicable WEEE legislation. EU Member Sates can take punitive actions in the event that WEEE is not disposed of properly by the "producer" and ends up in the municipal waste stream. Please find detailed below a list of the 27 EU member states plus Norway, Iceland and Switzerland with links to the following information. whether an individual or collective take back scheme is in place in the country; what the Avaya policy is in relation to the take back and disposal of WEEE; who Avaya's customers should contact is relation to the disposal of WEEE.
It should be noted that: the default is for Avaya's customers to contact the appropriate in-country Avaya representative before contacting the disposal company regarding the disposal of WEEE; third parties should contact their suppliers and not Avaya in relation to WEEE generated by indirect sales.
Avaya only deals with disposal companies that are able to demonstrate that product disposal is conducted in a WEEE-compliant manner. The proper disposal of WEEE will conserve natural resources (through re-use and recycling) and protect the environment and human health through proper disposal.
Contacts
For answers to questions regarding Avaya’s WEEE Compliance Program, please contact your Avaya representative or authorized business partner.
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