Page 15 - 2016 Integrated management and disposal of electrical and electronic waste and used electrical and electronic equipment in Latin America

Table 2 – Classification of EEE – European WEEE Directive

1. Large household appliances, such as large cooling equipment like refrigerators, freezers, or equipment for
cookers, microwave ovens, etc.
2. Small household appliances, such as cleaning equipment like vacuum cleaners and irons.
3. Information technology (IT) and telecommunication equipment, personal computers, laptops, printers,
photocopiers, telephones, cell phones, modems, routers, tablets, data processing management equipment,
etc.
4. Consumer electronics, such as radios, televisions, video cameras, musical instruments, etc.
5. Lighting equipment, fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent, excluding incandescent lamps for homes.
6. Electrical and electronic tools (except fixed industrial tools of great significance) like crushing equipment for
coatings.
7. Toys or sporting and leisure equipment, video consoles, trains, electric cars, etc.
8. Medical devices (with the exception of all implanted and infected products), such as cardiology equipment,
radiotherapy, dialysis, etc.
9. Monitoring and control instruments, such as smoke detectors, thermostats, control panels, etc.
10. Vending machines for drinks, automated teller machines (ATMs), etc.

Source: (EU WEEE Directive 2002/96/CE, 2002)

The European Directive states that from 2018 onward, all EEE should be grouped into six general categories, as
described in Table 3. The United Nations University recognizes these e-waste categories as valid for international
use.

Table 3 – Classification of EEE

1. Heat exchange equipment: Refers to refrigeration and freezing, such as refrigerators, freezers, air
conditioners or heat pumps.
2. Screens, monitors: Typical devices include televisions, monitors, laptops, notebooks and tablets. Any
2
device area larger than 100 cm .
3. Large equipment: Typical equipment includes washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers, electric
heaters, large printers, photocopiers and photovoltaic panels. (External dimension more than 50 cm).
4. Lamps: Typical equipment includes vertical fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps, high-pressure
discharge lamps and light emitting diodes (LEDs). (Including categories 1-3)
5. Small equipment: Typical equipment includes vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, ventilation
apparatuses, toasters, electric kettles, electric shavers, scales, radios, video cameras, electrical and
electronic toys, small electric and electronic tools, small medical devices, small tools for monitoring and
control. (Including categories 1 to 3 and 6. External dimension up to 50 cm).
6. Small ICT: Typical devices include cell phones, global positioning systems (GPS), pocket calculators,
routers, personal computers, printers and telephones.
Source: (UNU, 2015) and (EU WEEE Directive, 2012/19/EU, 2012)

Sustainable management of waste electrical and electronic equipment in Latin America 5