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42 P a r t I : T r e n d s a n d R e a s o n s t o G o G r e e n

The act includes four main requirements:

• Restrictions on hazardous materials
• Design for efficient recycling
• Collection and recycling of WEEE
• Recycling of vehicles at end-of-life
The act went into effect January 1, 2008.
Under the act, producers and importers of EEE or vehicles must make efforts to
facilitate the recycling of waste by reducing the use of hazardous substances and making
them more easily recyclable.
Producers are required to take back old products when selling a new one, regardless of
whether the product was made by them—including packaging—free of charge. Any
products to be recycled must be dealt with in an approved manner, by the reseller, by an
individual producer or importer, or by a Mutual Aid Association.
It’s helpful to realize what laws might apply to you and your company, but in the next
section we’ll roll up our sleeves and see how you can start making some environmentally
and pocketbook-friendly changes to your organization’s use of power.