SIST EN 50625-1:2014

Collection, logistics & Treatment requirements for WEEE - Part 1: General treatment requirements

This European Standard is applicable to the treatment of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). This standard will be supplemented, for example by standards covering specific equipment. NOTE   This European Standard is intended to cover WEEE arising from electrical and electronic equipment as listed in Annex I and Annex III of Directive 2012/19/EU. This standard applies to the treatment of WEEE until end-of-waste status is fulfilled, or until the WEEE is prepared for re-use, recycled, recovered, or disposed of. This standard addresses all operators involved in the treatment including related handling, sorting, and storage of WEEE.

Sammlung, Logistik und Behandlung von Elektro- und Elektronik-Altgeräten (WEEE) - Teil 1: Allgemeine Anforderungen an die Behandlung

Exigences de collecte, logistique et traitement pour les déchets d’équipements électriques et électroniques (DEEE) - Partie 1: Exigences générales du traitement

Zahteve za zbiranje, logistiko in obdelavo odpadne električne in elektronske opreme (WEEE) - 1. del: Splošne zahteve za obdelavo

Standard EN 50625-1 velja za obdelavo odpadne električne in elektronske opreme (WEEE). Standard bo nadomeščen z npr. standardi, ki zajemajo posebno opremo. OPOMBA Ta standard je namenjen odpadni električni in elektronski opremi, ki je navedena v dodatku I in dodatku III direktive 2012/19/EU. Velja za obdelavo odpadne električne in elektronske opreme do prenehanja statusa odpadka ali do priprave odpadne električne in elektronske opreme za vnovično uporabo, recikliranje, obnovitev ali odstranitev. Zajema vse izvajalce obdelave, vključno s tistimi, ki zajemajo povezano ravnanje, razvrščanje in shranjevanje odpadne električne in elektronske opreme.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 23-Mar-2014
• ICS: 13.030.99 - Other standards related to wastes
• ICS: 29.020 - Electrical engineering in general
• ICS: 31.020 - Electronic components in general
• Technical Committee: ITIV - Electronics assembly technology and Environmental standardization
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 14-Mar-2014
• Due Date: 19-May-2014
• Completion Date: 24-Mar-2014
• Directive: 2012/19/EU - Directive 2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
• Directive: TP176 - Uredba o odpadni električni in elektronski opremi
• Directive: TRRTP214 - Uredba o spremembah in dopolnitvah Uredbe o odpadni električni in elektronski opremi
• Mandate: M/490 - Standardisation mandate to the European Standardisation Organisations (ESOs) to support European Smart Grid deployment
• Mandate: M/518 - Mandate to the European standardisation organisations for standardisation in the field of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE))
• Ref Project: EN 50625-1:2014 - Collection, logistics & Treatment requirements for WEEE - Part 1: General treatment requirements

Relations

• Revised: oSIST prEN 50625-1:2025 - Collection, logistics & treatment requirements for WEEE - Part 1: General treatment requirements
• Effective Date: 16-Jul-2024

Overview

EN 50625-1:2014 (CENELEC/CLC) defines general requirements for the collection, logistics and treatment of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). The standard applies to the treatment chain - including handling, sorting and storage - for WEEE listed in Annex I and Annex III of Directive 2012/19/EU, covering the material lifecycle until end-of-waste, re‑use, recycling, recovery or disposal. It is intended for all operators involved in WEEE treatment and supports compliance with the WEEE Directive.

Key topics and technical requirements

EN 50625-1:2014 sets normative requirements and guidance across administrative, operational and technical areas:

• Management and organisation: management principles, technical and infrastructural pre-conditions, training, monitoring and shipment controls to ensure compliant treatment operations.
• Receiving, handling and storage: procedures for safe receipt, sorting, temporary storage and segregation of WEEE and derived fractions.
• De-pollution: defined requirements for removal of hazardous components (e.g., capacitors, batteries, mercury-containing lamps) and associated normative annexes describing selective treatment needs.
• De-pollution monitoring: verification and sampling methods to confirm hazardous components have been removed, as specified in normative annexes.
• Treatment of non de‑polluted WEEE: controls and restrictions when WEEE arrives without prior de‑pollution.
• Fractions and storage: classification, labelling and storage rules for output fractions to minimise cross-contamination and enable downstream recovery.
• Recycling and recovery targets: principles and normative methods for determining recycling/recovery rates and downstream documentation to support reporting.
• Batch processing requirements: criteria for processing, validating and documenting batches to demonstrate conformity.
• Documentation and traceability: record-keeping requirements for monitoring, shipments and calculation of recycling/recovery rates.

Practical applications - who uses this standard

EN 50625-1:2014 is used by:

• WEEE treatment facilities and recycling operators implementing compliant de‑pollution and material recovery processes.
• Logistics and storage operators managing inbound WEEE shipments and temporary storage.
• Producer compliance schemes and take-back organisations that oversee downstream treatment quality.
• Regulators, auditors and certification bodies assessing conformity with Directive 2012/19/EU.
• Environmental managers and health & safety teams integrating WEEE handling into site procedures.

Practical benefits include reduced environmental risk, improved material recycling quality, better documentation for reporting, and reduced likelihood of illegal shipments.

Related standards

This Part 1 is complemented by specific standards for particular equipment types (for example: gas-discharge lamps, flat panel displays, CRTs, photovoltaic panels, and equipment containing volatile fluorocarbons/hydrocarbons). Annex ZZ of EN 50625-1:2014 maps the standard to requirements of Directive 2012/19/EU.

Keywords: EN 50625-1:2014, WEEE standard, WEEE treatment, collection logistics treatment, de-pollution, recycling recovery targets, WEEE Directive.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2014
=DKWHYH]D]ELUDQMHORJLVWLNRLQREGHODYRRGSDGQHHOHNWULþQHLQHOHNWURQVNH
RSUHPH:(((GHO6SORãQH]DKWHYH]DREGHODYR
Collection, logistics & Treatment requirements for WEEE - Part 1: General treatment
requirements
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 50625-1:2014
ICS:
13.030.99 Drugi standardi v zvezi z Other standards related to
odpadki wastes
29.020 Elektrotehnika na splošno Electrical engineering in
general
31.020 Elektronske komponente na Electronic components in
splošno general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 50625-1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
March 2014
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.030.99; 29.100.01; 31.220.01

English version
Collection, logistics & Treatment requirements for WEEE -
Part 1: General treatment requirements

Exigences de collecte, logistique et Sammlung, Logistik und Behandlung von
traitement pour les déchets d’équipements Elektro- und Elektronik-Altgeräten
électriques et électroniques (DEEE) - (WEEE) -
Partie 1: Exigences générales du Teil 1: Allgemeine Anforderungen an die
traitement Behandlung
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2014-01-27. CENELEC members are bound to comply
with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard
the status of a national standard without any alteration.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on
application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified
to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,
the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B - 1000 Brussels

© 2014 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.
Ref. No. EN 50625-1:2014 E
Contents
Table of contents . 1
Foreword . - 4 -
Introduction . - 5 -
1 Scope . - 6 -
2 Normative references . - 6 -
3 Terms & definitions. - 6 -
3.2 backlight . - 6 -
3.3 batch . - 7 -
3.4 batch process . - 7 -
3.5 category . - 7 -
3.7 CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) . - 7 -
3.8 CRT equipment . - 7 -
3.9 collection . - 7 -
3.10 collection facility . - 7 -
3.11 de-pollution . - 7 -
3.12 disposal . - 7 -
3.13 end-of-waste . - 8 -
3.14 energy recovery . - 8 -
3.15 flat panel . - 8 -
3.16 flat panel display . - 8 -
3.17 flat panel display equipment . - 8 -
3.18 fraction . - 8 -
3.19 hazardous waste . - 8 -
3.20 lamp (electric) . - 8 -
3.21 lamp, gas discharge . - 8 -
3.22 logistics facility . - 9 -
3.23 material recovery . - 9 -
3.24 national competent authority . - 9 -
3.25 operator . - 9 -
3.26 photovoltaic panel (PV panel) . - 9 -
3.27 preparing for re-use . - 9 -
3.28 recovery . - 9 -
3.29 recycling . - 9 -
3.30 removal . - 9 -
3.31 re-use . - 10 -
3.32 storage . - 10 -
3.33 temperature exchange equipment . - 10 -
3.34 treatment . - 10 -
3.35 treatment facility . - 10 -
3.36 treatment operator . - 10 -
3.37 volatile fluorocarbon (VFC) . - 10 -
3.38 volatile hydrocarbon (VHC) . - 10 -
3.39 waste . - 11 -
3.40 WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) . - 11 -
4 Administrative and organisational requirements . - 11 -
4.1 Management principles . - 11 -
4.2 Technical and infrastructural pre-conditions . - 11 -
4.3 Training . - 12 -
4.4 Monitoring. - 12 -
4.5 Shipments . - 13 -
5 Technical requirements . - 13 -
5.1 General . - 13 -
5.2 Receiving of WEEE at treatment facility . - 14 -

- 3 - EN 50625-1:2014
5.3 Handling of WEEE. - 14 -
5.4 Storage of WEEE prior to treatment . - 14 -
5.5 De-pollution . - 15 -
5.6 De-pollution monitoring . - 15 -
5.7 Treatment of non de-polluted WEEE and fractions . - 16 -
5.8 Storage of fractions . - 16 -
5.9 Recycling and recovery targets . - 16 -
5.10 Recovery and disposal of fractions . - 17 -
6 Documentation . - 17 -
Annex A (Normative) De-pollution . - 19 -
A.1 Introduction. - 19 -
A.2 Capacitors . - 19 -
A.3 Printed circuit boards . - 20 -
A.4 Gas discharge lamps and components containing mercury . - 20 -
A.5 Batteries and accumulators . - 20 -
A.6 Plastics . - 20 -
A.6.1 Introduction and flow diagram . - 20 -
A.6.2 Plastics fractions without brominated flame retardants (BFRs) . - 21 -
A.7 Volatile fluorocarbons and volatile hydrocarbons . - 21 -
A.8 Asbestos. - 22 -
A.9 Components containing radioactive substances . - 22 -
Annex B (Normative) De-pollution monitoring . - 23 -
B.1 Introduction. - 23 -
B.2 Capacitors, batteries . - 23 -
B.3 Analysis of fractions . - 23 -
B.4 Plastics . - 24 -
Annex C (Normative) Determination of recycling and recovery rates . - 25 -
C.1 Introduction. - 25 -
C.2 Principles . - 25 -
C.3 Calculation. - 26 -
C.4 Documentation . - 27 -
C.5 Classification of final use of fractions . - 28 -
Annex D (Normative) Requirements concerning processing of a batch . - 29 -
D.1 Introduction. - 29 -
D.2 Input material . - 29 -
D.3 Processing . - 31 -
D.4 Output fractions . - 31 -
D.5 Documentation and validation . - 32 -
Annex E (Void) . - 33 -
Annex F (Informative) Materials and components of WEEE requiring selective treatment . - 34 -
Annex G (Informative) Documentation for downstream monitoring and establishment of recycling and
recovery rates . - 36 -
G.1 Information requirements . - 36 -
Annex ZZ (Informative) Coverage of Requirements of Commission Directive (EC) 2012/19/EU . - 37 -
Bibliography . - 38 -

Foreword
This document (EN 50625-1:2014) has been prepared by CLC/TC 111X "Environmental
aspects for electrical and electronic products and systems”.

The following dates are fixed:

• latest date by which this document has to b (dop) 2015-01-27
e implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national standard
or by endorsement
(dow) 2017-01-27
• latest date by which the national standards
conflicting with this document have to
be withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the
subject of patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying
any or all such patent rights.

This standard is based on a set of requirements prepared by the WEEE Forum aisbl and was
adopted by CENELEC after public enquiry and formal vote according to the CENELEC Rules
of Procedure.
This document has been prepared under mandate M/518 given to CENELEC by the European
Commission and the European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements
of Directive 2012/19/EU (WEEE).

For the relationship with the EU Directive see informative Annex ZZ, which is an integral part
of this document.
- 5 - EN 50625-1:2014
Introduction
This European Standard aims to assist organisations in:
• achieving effective and efficient treatment and disposal of Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in order to prevent pollution and minimise
emissions;
• promoting increased material recycling;
• promoting high quality recovery operations;
• preventing inappropriate disposal of WEEE and fractions thereof;
• assuring protection of human health and safety, and the environment;
• preventing shipments of WEEE to operators whose operations fail to comply with
this normative document or a comparable set of requirements.
This European Standard supports the objectives of the Community's environment policy.
These aim to preserve, protect and improve the quality of the environment, protect human
health and utilise natural resources prudently and rationally. That policy is based on the
precautionary principle and the maxims that preventive action to minimise environmental
damage should, where possible, be rectified at source and the polluter should pay.
This European Standard contains requirements applicable to the treatment of all types WEEE.
In the future it will be supported by other standards covering particular treatment
requirements for (gas discharge) lamps, flat panel displays, cathode ray tubes (CRTs),
photovoltaic panels and other equipment containing volatile fluorocarbons or volatile
hydrocarbons and other deliverables on collection and logistics, also re-use. Additionally this
standard will be supported by a technical report which will provide a more detailed
comparison between normative treatment requirements derived directly from the legal text of
Directive 2012/19/EC, especially Annex VII, and between informative treatment requirements
going beyond the strict requirements of Directive 2012/19/EC.
This European Standard has been prepared in order to support European legislation and so
uses some of the terms defined in European law. In order to ensure that the definitions used
in this standard are identical to those defined by law these terms are identified as 'void',
indicating that this standard does not contain a definition, and a 'Note to entry' that identifies
which law contains the legal definition and the term as defined in that law.

1 Scope
This European Standard is applicable to the treatment of waste electrical and electronic
equipment (WEEE). This standard will be supplemented, for example by standards covering
specific equipment.
NOTE This European Standard is intended to cover WEEE arising from electrical and electronic equipment as
listed in Annex I and Annex III of Directive 2012/19/EU.
This standard applies to the treatment of WEEE until end-of-waste status is fulfilled, or until
the WEEE is prepared for re-use, recycled, recovered, or disposed of.
This standard addresses all operators involved in the treatment including related handling,
sorting, and storage of WEEE.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and
are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
EN 14899, Characterization of waste — Sampling of waste materials — Framework for the
preparation and application of a sampling plan
EN 50574:2012, Collection, logistics & treatment requirements for end-of-life household
appliances containing volatile fluorocarbons or volatile hydrocarbons
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply:
3.1
acceptor
3.1.1
acceptor
organisation that physically and/or contractually takes ownership of WEEE fractions, after
processing has been carried out by a treatment operator
3.1.2
first acceptor
acceptor that directly accepts one or more WEEE fractions from the treatment operator
3.1.3
downstream acceptor
every acceptor in the treatment chain following after the first acceptor
3.1.4
final acceptor
acceptor where the final treatment step takes place
Note 1 to entry: Examples of final treatment steps are material recycling, energy recovery and disposal.
Note 2 to entry: Final acceptors receive final fractions.
3.2
backlight
part of the flat panel display, used with certain flat panel display technologies, that illuminates
the flat panel to make the image visible

- 7 - EN 50625-1:2014
3.3
batch
definite and well-defined amount of WEEE or fractions thereof
3.4
batch process
procedure where a batch is processed to determine the composition of the resulting output
fractions and de-pollution performance
3.5
category
void
Note 1 to entry: Category is a term used by Directive 2012/19/EU to describe types of electrical and electronic
equipment within its scope. When used in this standard the word ‘category ’should be construed as applying in a
comparable manner.
3.6
component
constituent part of a device which cannot be physically divided into smaller parts without
losing its particular function
3.7
CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)
component used to display images comprising a vacuum tube and integral fluorescent screen
3.8
CRT equipment
equipment containing at least one Cathode Ray Tube
3.9
collection
gathering of WEEE, including the preliminary sorting and preliminary storage of WEEE for the
purposes of transport to a logistics facility or a treatment facility.
Note 1 to entry: The term “collection” is defined in Directive 2008/98/EC.
3.10
collection facility
location designated for the gathering of WEEE to facilitate separate collection
Note 1 to entry: Collection facilities are typically registered, listed, or otherwise approved or designated in
accordance with the national legislation implementing Directive 2012/19/EU and Directive 2008/98/EU.
3.11
de-pollution
selective treatment during which certain substances, mixtures and components are removed
from the WEEE stream
Note 1 to entry: Annex F identifies which (certain) substances, mixtures and components shall be removed
and treated from separately collected WEEE, the process being de-pollution.
Note 2 to entry: De-pollution is concerned only with the removal of substances identified in Annex F whereas
the term “removal”, as defined in Directive 2012/19/EU, is concerned with the removal of hazardous substances.
3.12
disposal
void
Note 1 to entry: Directive 2008/98/EC defines disposal: "‘disposal’ means any operation which is not recovery
even where the operation has as a secondary consequence the reclamation of substances or energy. Annex I sets
out a non-exhaustive list of disposal operations".

3.13
end-of-waste
result of treatment whereby the resulting fractions are no longer classified as waste
Note 1 to entry: Fractions that cease to become waste, following a recovery or recycling operation in
compliance with specific criteria according to Article 6 of Directive 2008/98/EC, are regarded as secondary
materials and so have achieved end-of-waste status.
3.14
energy recovery
production of useful energy through direct and controlled combustion or other processing of
waste
Note 1 to entry: Energy recovery is a recovery operation where the material is used principally as a fuel or
other means to generate energy, see R1 of Annex II of Directive 2008/98/EC.
3.15
flat panel
that part of the flat panel display where the image is produced
3.16
flat panel display
assembly of components that use technologies that produce and display an image without the
use of cathode ray tubes
Note 1 to entry: The term “flat panel module” is also used as an alternative to the term flat panel display.
3.17
flat panel display equipment
equipment using a flat panel display having a display screen larger than 100 cm
Note 1 to entry: Examples of flat panel display equipment include LCD TV, Plasma TV, LCD screens and
monitors, and notebooks.
3.18
fraction
separate output stream generated by the treatment of WEEE
3.19
hazardous waste
waste which exhibits one or more hazardous properties
Note 1 to entry: The term “hazardous waste” is defined in Directive 2008/98/EC; the properties of hazardous
waste are described in Annex III of Directive 2008/98/EC.
3.20
lamp
electric light source, for general or special lighting purposes, but excluding filament bulbs
Note 1 to entry: General lighting can include straight and compact fluorescent lamps, high intensity discharge
lamps – including high pressure sodium and metal halide lamps, low pressure sodium lamps, and Light Emitting
Diodes (including organic). Special lighting is provided by lamps for the purpose of spreading or controlling light
(UV lamps, projection lamps, xenon lamps, etc.). A non-exhaustive list can be found in Directive 2012/19/EU.
3.21
lamp, gas discharge
void
Note 1 to entry: Regulation (EU) No. 1194/2012 contains the following: “Discharge lamp – a lamp in which the
light is produced directly or indirectly by an electric discharge through a gas, a metal vapour, or a mixture of
several gases and vapours”.
Note 2 to entry: Examples of gas discharge lamps include straight fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent
lamps, fluorescent lamps, high intensity discharge lamps – including pressure sodium lamps and metal halide
lamps, low pressure sodium lamps, and exclude LED lamps and filament lamps.
Note 3 to entry: Some backlighting lamps (typically non-LED types), as mentioned in Annex F of this standard
and Directive 2012/19/EU Annex VII, contain mercury.

- 9 - EN 50625-1:2014
3.22
logistics facility
facility for receiving and preparing for transportation to WEEE treatment facilities
3.23
material recovery
void
Note 1 to entry: Decision 2011/753/EU contains the following: “‘material recovery’ means any recovery
operation, excluding energy recovery and the reprocessing into materials which are to be used as fuel”.
3.24
national competent authority
body appointed in accordance with the prevailing laws of a Member State to execute various
functions
Note 1 to entry: Examples of such functions include performing market surveillance and issuing licences or
permits
3.25
operator
entity that performs one or more processes on WEEE
Note 1 to entry:  Processes on WEEE could include collection, handling, shipping, sorting, storage, transport,
trading, treatment, or preparing for re-use.
3.26
photovoltaic panel
(PV panel)
equipment intended to be permanently installed to a fixed installation that converts solar
radiation into electrical energy
3.27
preparing for re-use
void
Note 1 to entry: Directive 2008/98/EC contains the following: "‘preparing for re-use’ means checking, cleaning
or repairing recovery operations, by which products or components of products that have become waste are
prepared so that they can be re-used without any other pre-processing".
3.28
recovery
void
Note 1 to entry:  Directive 2008/98/EC contains the following: “‘recovery’ means any operation the principal
result of which is waste serving a useful purpose by replacing other materials which would otherwise have been
used to fulfil a particular function, or waste being prepared to fulfil that function, in the plant or in the wider
economy. Annex II sets out a non-exhaustive list of recovery operations”.
3.29
recycling
void
Note 1 to entry: Directive 2008/98/EC contains the following: “‘recycling’ means any recovery operation by
which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances whether for the original or other
purposes. It includes the reprocessing of organic material but does not include energy recovery and the
reprocessing into materials that are to be used as fuels or for backfilling operations”.
3.30
removal
void
Note 1 to entry: Directive 2012/19/EU contains the following: “‘removal’ means manual, mechanical, chemical
or metallurgic handling with the result that hazardous substances, mixtures and components are contained in an
identifiable stream or are an identifiable part of a stream within the treatment process. A substance, mixture or
component is identifiable if it can be monitored to verify environmentally safe treatment”.
Note 2 to entry: Where used in this standard, it is essential that the word “remove” be construed as having a
meaning that corresponds to the defined word “removal”.

3.31
re-use
void
Note 1 to entry: Directive 2008/98/EC contains the following: “‘re-use’ means any operation by which products
or components that are not waste are used again for the same purpose for which they were conceived”.
3.32
storage
process whereby WEEE is selected and deposited in a particular location awaiting treatment
or preparing for re-use
3.33
temperature exchange equipment
void
Note 1 to entry: This is a category of electrical and electronic equipment covered by Directive 2012/19/EU.
This Directive does not define what is meant by “temperature exchange equipment” but Annex IV contains the
following non-exhaustive list: refrigerators, freezers, equipment which automatically delivers cold products, air
conditioning equipment, dehumidifying equipment, heat pumps, radiators containing oil and other temperature
exchange equipment using fluids other than water for the temperature exchange. If this term is clarified further by
the European Commission or the Courts then it is essential that the term as used in this standard is construed in
the same way as those clarifications.
3.34
treatment
void
Note 1 to entry: Directive 2008/98/EC contains the following: “‘treatment’ means recovery or disposal
operations, including preparation prior to recovery or disposal”.
3.35
treatment facility
location where WEEE undergoes treatment
3.36
treatment operator
operator responsible for the treatment of WEEE
3.37
volatile fluorocarbon (VFC)
organic chemical compound consisting of carbon and fluorine atoms (in some cases also with
chlorine and/or hydrogen), which is able to change phase when used as a refrigerant or
produce cells in plastic structure of an insulating foam when used as a blowing agent
Note 1 to entry: Common commercial designations for these materials are R12, R11 for CFCs, R22, R141b
for HCFCs and R134a for HFCs.
Note 2 to entry: Chemically, volatile fluorocarbons could be either alkyl halides or alkene halides.
Note 3 to entry: CFC, HCFC, HFC and HC are all VOCs – Volatile Organic Compounds.
Note 4 to entry: Annex F of this standard and Directive 2012/19/EU Annex VII part 2 refers to ‘foam’ rather
than ‘insulating foam’, as used in the above definition.
[SOURCE: EN 50574:2012, 3.2.15]
3.38
volatile hydrocarbon (VHC)
organic chemical compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon which is able to
change phase when used as a refrigerant or produce cells in plastic structure of an insulating
foam when used as a blowing agent
Note 1 to entry: Common designations for volatile hydrocarbons are R290 for propane, R600a for isobutane,
R1270 for propene and RC601 for cyclopentane. Mixtures of VHC are also possible.
Note 2 to entry: Annex F of this standard and Directive 2012/19/EU Annex VII part 2 refers to ‘foam’ rather
than ‘insulating foam’, as used in the above definition.

- 11 - EN 50625-1:2014
[SOURCE: EN 50574:2012, 3.2.16]
3.39
waste
void
Note 1 to entry: Directive 2008/98/EC contains the following: “‘waste’ means any substance or object which
the holder discards or intends or is required to discard”.
3.40
WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)
void
Note 1 to entry: Directive 2012/19/EU contains the following: “‘waste electrical and electronic equipment’ or
‘WEEE’ means electrical or electronic equipment which is waste within the meaning of Article 3(1) of Directive
2008/98/EC, including all components, subassemblies and consumables which are part of the product at the time of
discarding”.
Note 2 to entry: Considering note 1 to entry, this standard covers whole equipment discarded as WEEE and
fractions thereof.
4 Administrative and organisational requirements
4.1 Management principles
The treatment operator shall ensure that a management system is in place for all activities in
the fields of health, safety, environment and quality.
The treatment operator shall demonstrate continuous improvement of their activities by a
review and management process. This management process shall be updated or revised as
changes occur to the activities of the treatment operator and evaluated in order to monitor its
effectiveness.
The treatment operator shall establish and maintain a procedure in order to identify legal
requirements that are applicable to the environmental, health and safety aspects of all
activities, services and processes undertaken at the facility.
NOTE A register of the treatment operator’s activities and related legal provisions could be maintained together
with valid permits required by all relevant authorities.
4.2 Technical and infrastructural pre-conditions
The treatment operator shall possess infrastructure, in terms of size, technologies installed,
and characteristics of the operations, that is suitable for the activities performed on site.
Suitability of the site shall be assessed by a risk management process for all tasks performed
on site and include the identification of hazards, the assessment of risk and, where
appropriate, the elimination or reduction of the risk, and documentation of the process.
This risk assessment shall include the identification of those locations and activities that
require the use of personal protective equipment and procedures to be followed.
NOTE Directive 89/391/EEC provides requirements for the safety and health for the protection of workers at work.
Treatment facilities including storage areas shall be designed, organised, and maintained to
provide safe access to, and egress from, the site. Treatment facilities including storage areas
shall be secured to prevent access by unauthorized persons, to prevent damage to and theft of WEEE
and components.
Weatherproof covering shall be required for the areas where:
• whole equipment and/or components, intended for preparation for re-use are stored
and/or prepared for re-use, or;

• WEEE and fractions thereof that can cause emissions that are hazardous to the
environment is stored and/or treated.
The treatment operator shall, at all times, provide weatherproof covering for the following
types of WEEE; gas discharge lamps and equipment containing gas discharge lamps, CRT
equipment, flat panel displays and flat panel display equipment.
Requirements for the storage of WEEE prior to treatment, including requirements for
weatherproof covering, are given in 5.4.
4.3 Training
All persons at the treatment facility shall be made familiar with the environmental, health and
safety policy of the facility. Employees and contractors involved in operations shall be
instructed and trained to perform the tasks assigned to them.
Training shall include emergency response planning, occupational health and safety
measures, and training for the relevant operations performed on site. The effectiveness and
suitability of training shall be checked regularly. Training programmes shall be delivered at a
level suitable to the trainee in form, manner and language.
Employee training materials and information including technical guidance documents, risk
assessments, safety statements, information charts, information tables, photos or examples of
components of WEEE, and safety data sheets for hazardous chemical components shall be
available at the work place and be easily accessible at all times.
Where the risk assessment has identified the need for personal protective equipment (PPE)
training in the proper use of that PPE shall be provided.
4.4 Monitoring
The treatment operator shall record the origin of each consignment of WEEE accepted at the
treatment facility.
NOTE 1 The origin of each consignment is typically location and reference details of the collection facility or
logistics facility.
The treatment operator shall record the downstream treatment of WEEE and fractions thereof
until end-of-waste status is reached or until the WEEE is prepared for re-use, recycled,
recovered, or disposed of. Documentation, see Clause 6, shall record treatment in
accordance with Clause 5.
NOTE 2 Downstream monitoring requirements also apply where the downstream operator is a dealer or
broker, and when shipped across borders.
The treatment operator shall maintain the following records from the output fractions resulting
from the treatment process:
• for fractions that have reached end-of-waste status, only data on the composition of
the fractions;
• for metal fractions which contain less than 2 % of non-metal fractions, data on the
mass of the output fraction, and the type of treatment technology(ies);
• for non-metal fractions containing less than 2 % of other materials data on the mass of
the output fraction, information on the first acceptor and the final treatment
technology(ies);
NOTE 3 The number 2 % is taken as a value which is considered to be sufficiently low when calculating
recycling and recovery rates. It is not intended to represent a value that will be acceptable to downstream
treatment operators. For calculation of output fractions see D.4.
• for fractions which are classified as hazardous according to the European list of
wastes; and/or fractions containing materials and components covered by Annex F,
data on the mass of the output fraction, information on the first acceptor and the
downstream acceptor(s) of the fractions, and the final treatment technology(ies);

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• for all other fractions, the mass of the output fraction, information on the first acceptor,
composition of the fractions and the final treatment technology(ies) shall be recorded;
• for final fractions being forwarded for energy recovery or disposal, the final treatment
technology, information on the downstream acceptor(s), composition of the fractions
and the final treatment technology(ies) shall be recorded.
An overview of documentation required for downstream monitoring and the determination of
recycling and recovery rates is given in Annex G.
The information recorded on acceptors shall include the following details: name, address of
treatment facility, treatment technology and permit issued by the national competent authority.
NOTE 4 The documentation of downstream monitoring for the output fractions means the provision of
information regarding each acceptor and not to each shipment.
NOTE 5 Regulations 333/2011, 1179/2012 and 715/2013 establish the criteria for determining when certain
types of materials obtained from waste cease to be waste under Directive 2008/98/EC.
NOTE 6 The European List of Waste (Commission Decision 2000/532/EC) provides a harmonised list of
waste.
NOTE 7 Final treatment technology means the process used for final treatment of materials, e.g. smelting,
incineration with or without energy recovery, plastic recycling.
NOTE 8 Examples of fractions containing materials and components covered by Annex F include washing
machines with only the motor removed (where these still contain Annex F components); and a non-ferrous stream
containing electrolyte capacitors having a height or diameter > 25 mm or proportionately similar volume.
4.5 Shipments
No treatment operator shall initiate or contribute to shipments of WEEE, or fractions thereof,
which would result in treatment that is not in compliance with this standard.
NOTE 1 Regulatory requirements for cross border shipments, including monitoring, are covered in Regulation
1013/2006/EC and Article 10 of Directive 2012/19/EU.
NOTE 2 Council Directive 2006/117/EURATOM defines requirements for the supervision and control of
shipments of radioactive waste between Member States and into and out of the Community.
5 Technical requirements
5.1 General
WEEE shall be handled and stored with due care in order to avoid release of hazardous
substances into air, water, or soil, as a result of damage and/or leakage.
NOTE 1 Handling includes loading and unloading.
During handling and storage attention shall be given but not limited to:
• temperature exchange equipment (to avoid damage to the temperature exchange
system);
• CRT equipment (to avoid implosion and/or emissions of fluorescent coatings);
• gas discharge lamps, appliances containing gas discharge lamps and appliances
containing mercury switches (to avoid breakage resulting in the release of mercury);
• smoke detectors (as they may contain radioactive components);
• appliances containing oil and other fluids within an internal circuit, or capacitors
containing mineral or synthetic oil (to avoid spillages and other emissions);
• appliances containing asbestos or ceramic fibres (to avoid release of asbestos or
ceramic fibres); and
• photovoltaic panels (to prevent injury from broken glass and electrocution caused
through contact with hazardous voltages generated when the panels are exposed to
light).
NOTE 2 Appliances that contain gas discharge lamps include sun beds and flat panel display equipment.
NOTE 3 Appliances that may contain asbestos include heaters and stoves.

NOTE 4 Vacuum insulation p
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