|
|
Statement on RoHS and WEEE
RoHS Directive
Even though it is not a current requirement in America, the
global environmental community seems to be moving towards eliminating
lead from all products possible, including lead used in electronics,
such as PCB boards. This pressure to eliminate lead in electronic
interconnection, will eventually come to the United States,
and is already becoming a requirement in the Western European
Countries.
The European Union (EU) has already implemented a Restriction
on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and prohibited the use of lead
and 5 other substances in electronics beginning July 1, 2006.
The current draft of the definition of "lead free"
by RoHS Indicates a maximum concentration value of 0.1% by
weight in homogenous material for lead, mercury, hexavalin
chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), and polybromintated
diphenyls (PBDE). And will tolerate a weight for homogenous
cadminium of 0.01%. Homogenous meaning "of uniform composition
throughout". A semi-conductor package contains many homogenous
materials which include plastic moulding material, tin electroplating
coating on the lead frame, the lead frame alloys, and gold
bond wires.
What does this mean to us?
The European Parliament has ordered that WEEE (Waste Electrical
and Electronic Equipment) have all businesses in the electronic
equipment manufacturing industries have a recycle and collection
plan implemented by Aug 13, 2005, and electronic equipment
manufactured after July 1, 2006 must be lead free.
EPC complies with all of the requirements of the RoHS directive.
Download a copy of our RoHS statement below.
EPC
RoHS Statement (PDF)
WEEE Directive
The WEEE directive is intended to prevent waste consisting
of electrical and electronic equipment from being introduced
to the waste stream. If the device is covered under the directive,
it places the responsibility for disposal, and or recycling,
of WEEE on its producer.
Products produced by EPC are not covered in the scope of
the WEEE Directive because they do not fall within any of
the defined product catagories. Our products are always part
of a larger system or piece of equipment, and therefore are
not "stand-alone" equipment as defined by the Technical
Adaptation Committee (TAC).
For customers who still wish to send us EPC produced products,
we are willing to recycle and dispose of them in a manner
that meets all local environmental regulations.
|
