A new design methodology for manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment

The European directive for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive (WEEE) is currently expected to be translated in to UK law in early 2006. A key aim of this legislation is to reduce the amount of e-waste going to landfill, by requiring companies who manufacture or import electrical and electronic equipment to take responsibility for it at the end of its life. Despite this approaching deadline, research indicates that many companies are still unclear about the implications this legislation will have on the design of their products. Although the Department of Trade and Industry are working at raising general awareness there are currently few practical tools to guide product design decisions so that the financial implications of the legislation are minimised. This paper introduces an on-going project which aims to create a strategic web based tool to help design teams meet the requirements of the WEEE directive. SortED, which is being developed with input from a wide range of stakeholders throughout the supply chain, is being designed to help companies quickly identify the implications of the new legislation on their products and explore the options available to them. Created to be ‘designer friendly’, the tool guides the development team through the types of questions that they should be asking to ensure that they meet the requirements of the WEEE directive, whilst minimising costs and maximising any potential revenue.