Spanish administration sets reuse targets for electronics

CANTERBURY (Scrap Monster): The Spanish government has implemented targets for electronics manufacturers to reuse electronic products. This is in addition to the already existing recycling targets. The new decree requires manufacturers to prepare electronics for reuse. Spain has thus become the first country in the European region to set target for electronics reuse.

Royal Decree 110/2015 aims to overcome the shortcomings identified in the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). According to the decree, a legal regime is necessary to monitor the collection, management and treatment of the flow of WEEE. It however, did not require individual countries to implement reuse targets.

According to Spanish government, electronics producers are required to prepare 2% of white goods and 3% of other electronics items for reuse with effect from January 2017 onwards. Further, the requirements will be raised to 3% for white goods and 4% for other electronics starting August 2018. Meantime, the European Commission plans to conduct detailed study on imposition of reuse targets. Spain will revise its electronics reuse scheme once the study report is published by the European Commission.

The Royal Decree directs retailers to accept electronics scrap free-of-cost when an equivalent new item is purchased by the customer. Also, retailers with floor area exceeding 4,300 square feet are required to accept smaller size electronics scrap without requiring the customer to purchase equivalent new goods.