Cyprus context
These are not stand-alone pages, but
complements to the above ones.
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Cyprus has transposed the WEEE Directive into Cyprus law. This means
that four kilograms of electrical and electronic waste per inhabitant
should be collected each year, from householders, free of charge! The
reality of the situation is far from this as very few municipalities
have taken any steps to ensure this.
The householder, faced with a piece of end of life equipment, be it
small like a mobile phone or large like a washing machine has little
clue as to how this can be recycled. The government has an obligation to
inform the public as to what can be done. The fact that this is
inadequate may result in severe financial sanctions being imposed upon
the country by Brussels.
When buying new equipment, again no matter how small or how large, make
sure that the old the equipment is taken back by your vendor: this is
mandatory and he cannot refuse. What he does with it is anybody's guess!
I recommend that you ask him before making a purchase; if he gives an
unsatisfactory answer, then you may consider going elsewhere for your
new equipment.
If you are not purchasing new equipment, then the vendor has no
obligation to take it back, although he may do out of goodwill. If your
municipality has not informed you what you should do to get rid of it,
you will need to take your own measures, such as is laid out in the
Where to recycle page.
I am often asked what to do with used batteries. Obviously, car
batteries are highly dangerous for the environment and there is an
obligation for the vendor to take back the old one for recycling.
Ordinary dry batteries, rechargeable or not, including cellphone
batteries, can be taken to any branch of Carrefour, where they have
collection bins close to the entrance.
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