Citation
Leal Filho, W. (2007), "Editorial", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 18 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/meq.2007.08318aaa.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Editorial
Welcome to another issue of MEQ. Readers will find in this issue a set of interesting papers dealing with aspects of environment and management from various parts of the world.
In this editorial, emphasis will be given to the fact that “electroscrap” being collected in Europe is growing fast, and costs are falling. These are good news. According to the electronic waste Forum (WEE), representing 35 collective take-back systems, the new system seems to be working.
EU countries were required to start collecting electroscrap last year under the 2002 Electronic Waste Directive. According to the WEE Forum, the 16 most advanced take-back systems operating in 11 countries with about 130 m inhabitants collected 428,600 tonnes of electroscrap in 2005. This equates to less than 4 kg per capita, the legal target set in the directive for achievement by the end of 2006. However, the forum believes that real collection exceeds the target since its member systems don’t cover all ten product groups specified by the law. Across the board, further progress is being made. The number of operational schemes is increasing (there were only six in 2003); operational schemes are expanding the range of electroscrap they collect; and operational costs are decreasing “year after year”.
This journal will continue to report on aspects of waste management and keep its readers informed on current and future developments.
Enjoy your reading!
Walter Leal Filho