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International technical standards

This section in module 5 focuses on CENELEC, CEWASTE and WEEELABEX standards in the process of e-Waste management.

CENELEC EN 50625 series

  • Non-Profit International Association. Experts developing European Standards (ENs).
  • CENELEC developed standards for the collection, transport and treatment (including recovery, recycling and preparing for re-use) of WEEE covered by the European WEEE Directive.
  • Standards are reviewed every 5 years.
  • Those standards can be used to support legislation.
  • This will bring harmonized standards in all countries, facilitating trade and economic activities.
  • Those standards are very supported by the stakeholders of electrical and electronical equipment.

Objectives of the CENELEC standards:

CEWASTE

  • European Union H2020 project (2019-2021)
  • Goal: Develop a voluntary certification scheme for waste treatment with focus on recovery of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs). It will standardize collection, transport, and treatment facilities of valuable WEEE.
  • Identification of CRMs from WEEE and focus the scheme to improve CRMs recycling from WEEE and waste batteries.
  • Identification of environmental, social, technological and governmental performance of collection, transport and treatment requirements.
  • Ensure long term sustainability of the scheme.
CEWASTE is an addition to CENELEC. Focuses more on Critical Raw Materials and their recovery.

Weeelabex

  • European standard required for companies that process WEEE.
  • Provides uniform rules for the collection, storage, transport, processing, recycling and re-use of WEEE.
  • Objective: audit and verify that companies processing with WEEE reach the minimum required degree of recycling and meet the CENELEC standards.
  • Weeelabex also provides training for CENELEC auditors.

Comparison