On July 1, 2006, the European Union directives 2002/95/EC (Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances – “RoHS” and 2002/96/EC (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment – “WEEE” will come into force. These directives regulate the disposal of used electronic and electrical devices and/or prohibit new equipment put on the market that contain lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), hexavalent chromium (Cr VI), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and/or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The proposed maximum concentration values (MCV) in a “homogeneous material” are as follows:
Hazardous Substances |
Maximum Concentration Values |
Lead (Pb) |
0.1% of the weight = 1000 mg/Kg = 1000 ppm |
Mercury (Hg) |
0.1% of the weight = 1000 mg/Kg = 1000 ppm |
Cadmium (Cd) |
0.01% of the weight = 100 mg/Kg = 100 ppm |
Hexavalent Chromium (Cr VI) |
0.1% of the weight = 1000 mg/Kg = 1000 ppm |
PBB / PBDE |
0.1% of the weight = 1000 mg/Kg = 1000 ppm |
Note: “homogeneous materials” – a unit that cannot be mechanically disjoined into single materials.