China releases guidelines on disposal of 9 WEEE items, including printers, mobile phones 
China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment on September 10 released the Guidelines on Environmental Management and Pollution Control for the Disposal of Nine Types of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, including Range Hoods (the “Guidelines”). The following nine items of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are covered by the Guidelines:
- Range hoods
- Electric water heaters
- Gas water heaters
- Printers
- Photocopiers
- Fax machines
- Monitors
- Mobile communication terminals
- Phones
The Guidelines set requirements for companies disposing of the products above, including requirements on factory sites, storage and disposal facilities, and pollution control measures. Appendix 1 of the Guidelines lists requirements on environmental risks related to main waste generated from dismantling as well as on waste disposal facilities. Two of them are shown in the table below as an example.
|
Waste |
Source of waste | Environmental impacts |
Waste disposal facilities |
| Electric cords/cables | All of the nine WEEE items | There are environmental risks because the waste may contain polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. | Waste is disposed of by waste disposal companies with the necessary capabilities or companies on the list of electronic waste dismantling, use and handling businesses. |
| Lithium batteries | Mobile phones | There are environmental risks. | Waste is disposed of by waste disposal companies with the necessary capabilities or other appropriate entities. |
Appendix 2 lists pollutants that should be regularly monitored by waste disposal companies in accordance with the relevant regulations. Two of them are shown in the table below as an example.
| Waste | Main pollutants | Medium/media |
| Electric cords/cables | Dioxins, lead and its compounds, BTEX, phenols and volatile halogenated hydrocarbons | Air |
| Lithium batteries | pH, total nickel, total copper, total manganese, VOCs and anode materials | Air and water |
The full Guidelines (in simplified Chinese) are available at
https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk01/202109/t20210910_922236.html
