This electronic waste includes the so-called brown line that covers apparatus for home use such as TVs, radios, video cameras, DVDs and music systems. The grey line includes computers and telephones, and the white line household devices such as fridges or washing machines.

In an average Spanish provincial capital of 300,000 and 400,000 inhabitants, some 2,500 electronic devices were collected in 2002 thanks to the calls of individuals. Most of the electronic waste collected was old TVs, followed by fridges, washing machines and hobs.

However, it is still common for these types of goods to be dumped in skips in Spain, which is highly damaging to the environment.

European directive, to the rescue
Up until now, the manufacturers of these goods had no plan set up to collect the apparatus once their clients had no use for them.

This situation will change sharply in January 2006, when the European directive on the recycling of electric and electronic apparatus (RAEE) will ensure the manufacturers of these devices collect and recycle them in an adequate manner via authorised hazardous waste management companies.

From that same date, the manufacture of computers and household appliances using lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavelant chrome will be forbidden. The directive also ensures all member states collect at least four kilos of this type of waste a year per inhabitant.

How are they recycled?
The complex nature of the components of these types of devices requires treatment by specialised teams and, in general, the cost is high and so its economic viability must first be examined.

Instead of dumping or incineration, recycling involves reusing such prime materials as glass, plastic, iron, copper, aluminium, zinc or even precious metals. In fact, the volume of material that can be reused after recycling reaches some 75% to 90% of the product's weight, so the recuperation of these types of goods is extremely beneficial.

Did you know...?
-In 2002 a total of 1,193,059 kilos of electric and electronic devices was recycled in Spain. In 2003 some 475,912 kilos have been collected, 107 tons more than in the same period last year.
-The Basque Country is the area that recycles most devices of this type. The plan was started in 1998 after a trial period in Bilbao. Thanks to the 2001 campaign, some 987,000 kilos of domestic electric and electronic devices were collected and treated. In 2002 over a million kilos were collected for recycling purposes.