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 sound 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 February 2003 and today, 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 EEE Put On The Market (POTM) on or after 13th August 2005. In addition to this 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 13th 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
For direct sales to customers where the EEE was POTM on or after the 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. Indirect sales to customers (i.e. 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, which resides 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, which resides 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. Please find detailed below a list of the twenty-seven (27) EU member states along with Norway, Iceland and Switzerland. A link is provided for each country, which indicates: 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.
Contacts
For answers to questions regarding Avaya’s WEEE Compliance Program, please contact your Avaya representative or authorized business partner.
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