WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2096/97 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Electronic scrap
10. 2. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 45/155 Televisions (TVs) Video cassette recorders (VCRs) Integrated receiver decoders (IRD) Answering machines Miscellaneous power suppliers (battery chargers, halogen lamp) Stereo hi-fi Office equipment (PCs, printers, copiers, fax) TOTAL (1) This is about 3. 5% of the total Community annual electricity consumption. 6000 GWh 9000 GWh 3400 GWh 680 GWh 4000 GWh 4500 GWh 50000 Gwh (1) 77580 GWh The standby consumption of electronic equipment can be considerably reduced. The technology to reduce 2. standby consumption for each of the above products is well known and in some cases already used, although it represents an extra manufacturing cost. The Commission has concentrated its initial efforts on TVs and VCRs as these are responsible for a large part of this consumption in the domestic sector. The average standby consumption of a TV set is 8 watts and of a VCR is 10 Watts. The Commission has therefore negotiated with TV and VCR manufacturers a voluntary commitment to reduce progressively the average stand-by consumption to less than 3 Watts. For the other electronic equipment the Commission is evaluating the technical and economic potential for reduction of the standby consumption and the best measures to achieve this. For office equipment the Commission is also considering a voluntary labelling programme on a world-wide basis. The Commission considers a priority area of action the reduction of standby consumption of electronic 3. equipment. However technologies to achieve low standby consumption are already available for electronics equipment. Therefore, the Commission does not believe that technical projects in this area need to be supported. However, the Commission believes that policies aimed to promote the penetration into the market of more energy efficient appliances need to be supported. (98/C 45/204) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2096/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (19 June 1997) Subject: Electronic scrap 1. (a) Does the Commission know whether the industry is planning voluntary agreements? (b) What is the Commissionís assessment of them? 2. How would the Commission view an arrangement combining voluntary commitments and legally binding framework conditions? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (1 August 1997) 1. Waste from electrical and electronic equipment is covered by the Community legislation on waste. The Commission does not have of information on voluntary agreements in the field of electronic waste. 2. The Commission opinion on voluntary commitments is reflected in its communication of 27 November 1996 (1). This communication contains guidelines for the preparation of voluntary agreements. On 17 July 1997 the Parliament adopted a Resolution on this communication. (1) COM(96) 561