Are there European laws that address discarded cell phones and rechargeable batteries?
Yes. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive entered into force on February 13, 2003, requiring EU member states to develop individual legislation based on its terms by August 13, 2004. The Directive includes cell phones as part of the electronic equipment that it covers. Cell phone manufacturers must finance collection and recycling of discarded cell phones. Related to the WEEE Directive, the Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive, in effect as of July 1, 2006, sets maximum concentration values by weight of each homogeneous material for lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers contained in the listed electrical and electronic equipment. The EU Battery Directive entered into force on September 26, 2006, and member states must transpose this Directive into national law by September 26, 2008. Battery manufacturers and makers of equipment that include batteries must finance collection and
