Industry Specific Guidance

WEEE Challenges

Companies impacted by the WEEE Regulations include manufacturers, rebranders and importers of EEE products used in the healthcare sector which covers an extensive range of equipment, such as:

• Radiotherapy equipment
• Cardiology equipment
• Dialysis equipment
• Pulmonary ventilators
• Laboratory equipment
• MRI Scanners

Final Users responsibilities - As well as placing financial obligations on Producers for the collection and recycling of WEEE, the Regulations place a number of responsibilities on non-household Final Users of EEE. While, generally, final-users are unaware of the development of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment legislation, key players in the healthcare sector, ABHI, DoH, NHS, PASA and NHS Supply Chain have been debating this waste issue for a number of years.

Decontamination - Final users of medical equipment, that has been contaminated or infected with biological material, are required to provide evidence that the EEE items have since been decontaminated to the required standards before the equipment can be classed as WEEE and disposed of safely by the Producer. This has associated costs which can potentially increase if the Final User cannot provide evidence of decontamination.

 

B2B Compliance Solutions

B2B Compliance has recognised the raised awareness in this sector and the complexities that face healthcare providers such as GP surgeries, dentists, care homes, and individual hospitals. With this in mind B2B Compliance has developed solutions that protect both the interests of Producers and assist Final users in the Healthcare sector.

B2B Compliance has been instrumental in setting up key working groups and providing valuable guidance in this area. B2B Compliance is now recognised as the definitive scheme solution for Producers supplying electrical and electronic equipment into the medical and healthcare sectors. This can be seen from the support of three leading Trade Associations in the medical and healthcare sectors, the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA), The British Anaesthetic & Respiratory Equipment Manufacturers Association (BAREMA), and The Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI).