Environmental protection experts called for Guangzhou to establish a mechanism to handle computer, electrical and electronic waste.

 

The experts suggested the government should make the manufacturers bear responsibility for handling electrical and electronic equipment waste based on the "polluters have to pay" principle.

 

Experts said the government should step up the construction of a treatment center for used electrical and electronic equipment. Guangzhou has planned a center to handle 80,000 tons of household appliance waste annually.

 

The Mechanical Electronics Association said Guangzhou companies should speed up research and development in eco-friendly materials and related government departments should do their utmost to meet EU trade standards in environmental protection.

 

EU started to implement Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) directives this August, requiring producers to recycle 10 categories of electrical and electronic products in the EU market.

 

At this year's Canton Fair, some exporters have announced they may increase prices by 10 percent to include waste disposal fees in the export cost, depending on whether the EU countries have started to implement WEEE directives or not. Some manufacturers upgraded their products to meet EU WEEE directives.

 

(Shenzhen Daily October 19, 2005)