ITALIANCollective Systems such as ReMedia organise and run an integrated system for collecting and treating WEEE that is then routed to Collection Sites (local authority waste sites, for example). Their task is completed only when the products to be disposed of have been treated in compliance with strict safety criteria and then converted into materials that can be re-introduced into production processes. Consorzio ReMedia co-ordinates and controls all of the necessary activities for treating and recovering end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment and it ensures the system operates with the utmost efficiency and total safety from an environmental standpoint.
For more information about Weee Scheme in Italy, please, see the Decree 151/05 or get in touch with ReMedia: info@consorzioremedia.it.
Collection
As fixed by the Ministry of the Environment, EEE producers who are members of ReMedia must ensure separate WEEE collection through the consortium, as provided for by Legislative Decree 151<ins datetime="2006-08-09T15:53" cite="mailto:Mau">/05</ins>.
At civic collecting sites all WEEE have to be collected in different groupings as following:
R1 air conditioning and refrigerators
R2 big household appliances
R3 tv and monitors
R4 various, meaning all kind of Weee not included in the other mentioned groupings
Then, WEEE are cleared away by ReMedia using authorized transport vehicles to our selected treatment systems.
Consorzio ReMedia comprises leading EEE Producers and carries out the task of WEEE collection and transport using excellent technological solutions and process standards on their behalf.
The partners of ReMedia are therefore required to work in full compliance with existing standards under the applicable law, including environmental law, assuring that the work is performed by experienced personnel trained specifically for this purpose, and with the appropriate and efficient equipment.
Safety requirements
The WEEE collected from civic collecting sites may contain hazardous substances, such as phosphorus inside television sets or ozone-depleting substances inside refrigerators.
If the equipment is damaged during transportation or at the beginning of treatment, these hazardous substances can be released into air, becoming potentially dangerous for human beings and the environment as well.
In order to ensure the safety of WEEE collected from civic collecting sites, Consorzio Re.Media partners have infrastructures that comply with the Decree requirements and are fully equipped to receive and stock WEEE, using appropriate handling systems which ensures to avoid damaging the equipment during the treatment process.
Before the beginning of the treatment process, all Weee materials have to be parted in order to take off the most dangerous components such as capacitors, PCB and mercury components, batteries, cables, and so on. After the removal they are sent to different authorised plant for their treatment.
Treatement
Treatment activities of recycling, recovering and upgrading are part of a real “production line” which, instead of assembling and transforming raw materials and components into finished products, carries out the reverse procedure.
>> look at the treatment of a TV
ReMedia partners are committed to investing in leading-edge WEEE treatment technologies, thereby ensuring that the best treatment methods are really applied.
The sites selected by ReMedia are all authorised and provide detailed and prompt documentation on the recycling and/or disposal of the materials that have been treated.
Recovery
Legislative Decree No. 151 requires that collective producer compliance systems such as ReMedia achieve specific recovery objectives for treated WEEE.
For example, for consumer electronics, the minimum percentage recovery by average weight of appliance is at least 75% and the minimum percentage reuse and recycling of components, materials and substances by average weight of appliance is 65%.
