| No, we're not talking about the Wii - the latest | | | | country and in the third world. |
| must-have games console from Nintendo - but | | | | Before dispatching your equipment to far-flung corners |
| European Union legislation. The Waste Electrical and | | | | of the world the hard disks must be wiped clean, as |
| Electronic Equipment (WEEE) 2006 directive concerns | | | | unfortunately many PCs are discarded still loaded with |
| the responsible disposal of electrical and computer | | | | information that the previous owners certainly wouldn't |
| equipment by companies and individuals, and is now | | | | want anyone else to access! Reputable charities |
| enshrined in European Law. The Environment Agency | | | | ensure that this happens on your behalf as part of the |
| sums it up thus: "This directive aims to reduce the | | | | reconditioning process. As owners we often get rid of |
| amount of WEEE being produced and encourages | | | | PC equipment when there is absolutely nothing |
| everyone to reuse, recycle and recover it." The | | | | functionally wrong with it. It will still work, but just not as |
| purpose of the directive is to protect the "soil, water | | | | fast as the latest models that we have replaced it |
| and air against pollution through better disposal of | | | | with, so it's ideal for that sort of kit to go to the |
| waste and electrical and electronic equipment. It also | | | | computer charities. If you are concerned that by |
| stimulates the reuse, recycling and other forms of | | | | exporting the reconditioned computers to the third |
| recovery of such wastes so as to reduce the disposal | | | | world, we are merely shifting the waste burden there, |
| of waste." | | | | then don't be. The charities involved have already |
| But, what does it mean to us, and how does it control | | | | guaranteed that the computers will be disposed of |
| the disposal of our used electrical equipment such as | | | | ethically once they are obsolete. |
| computers and household electrical items? The | | | | However, some other equipment may not be as easily |
| directive is designed to make us think about the impact | | | | reconditioned as it really is obsolete so it has to be |
| on the environment that the disposal of electrical and | | | | disposed of in an environmentally friendly way. There |
| computer equipment has. We can no longer just dump | | | | are now a number of professional computer disposal |
| equipment without giving it a second thought. Prior to | | | | equipment companies, who will collect your old |
| the introduction of this legislation up to 1.5million PCs | | | | equipment and ensure that it is destroyed in |
| were disposed of in landfill sites throughout the UK and | | | | accordance with the WEEE directive by breaking it |
| who knows how long it will take for them to | | | | down and make all the components safe. If you use a |
| decompose? Now, they must either be recycled bit by | | | | company such as this they will provide you with a |
| bit making safe any hazardous or toxic components, | | | | detailed summary of what they have done with your |
| or they must be reconditioned making them useful | | | | old equipment, ensuring that you are aware of what |
| again, if not for use within Europe then in third world | | | | has happened to it and putting your mind at rest that |
| countries. Many charities exist which will gladly accept | | | | you have done your bit for the environment and |
| discarded equipment that can be utilised for schools | | | | according to the latest legislation. |
| and community projects for many years, in both this | | | | |