In order to make sure that the devices are processed under the supervision of environmental permit authorities and in accordance with the laws of Finland, bring your electrical equipment in for official recycling. Materials from official recycling are also recorded in national waste statistics, which is processed up to the level of European Union. Export of unusable devices is subject to a license, and therefore appliances should not be taken to an unofficial collection points, because in the worst case they may end up in countries that do not have similar environmental control.
Producer responsibility of the companies
All companies importing or manufacturing devices in Europe are bound by the producer responsibility. This means that companies, i.e. producers, are required by law to cover the costs of recycling and waste management of devices when they are is taken out of use. Companies manage the producer responsibility by joining the producer association that manages centralized collection and recycling of the used devices. The producer associations maintain a collection network covering the whole of Finland, organize the transport of recycled material to the recycling plants and make contracts with companies specializing in recycling. Recycling of devices is free for the consumers, because the companies selling the appliances cover the cost of the recycling by paying the fee to the producer association.
Five producer associations operate behind WEEE recycling
In Finland, producer associations approved by the authorities include all organizations behind WEEE recycling, namely Selt ry, Flip ry and ICT-tuottajaosuuskunta -TY, ERP Finland ry and SER-Tuottajayhteisö ry. The operations of producer associations are subject to a license and are supervised centrally by the Pirkanmaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and the Provincial Government of Åland.
Producer responsibility is specified in the Waste Act (646/2011) and in the regulations specific to the type of waste. WEEE regulations are specified in the Government Decree on Electrical and Electronic Equipment Waste (2014/519).