For example, every year the UK disposes of 2 million tonnes of WEEE. It is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the UK and the EU. The EU adopted the WEEE Directive to deal with this waste by ensuring more waste is collected for treatment and recovery and less goes to landfill.
The aim of the legislation is to:
D&D Technologies’ MagnaLatch® ALERT ‘Top Pull’ and ‘Vertical Pull’ models are considered Electrical or Electronic Equipment (EEE). This is because with the alarm modules attached to these latches are powered by Lithium Metal Batteries.
These latches are regulated by the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and EU Batteries Directive that are applicable to EU Member States.
WEEE Directive and Battery Directive oblige the Producer (i.e. the importer, distributor or reseller) of D&D’s MagnaLatch® ALERT latches to collect and recycle or dispose of such electrical components in an environmentally sound manner when the latches or their batteries become waste.
In order to comply with the WEEE and Battery Directives, D&D strongly advise that the Producer to register for WEEE compliance and Battery compliance schemes in the relevant EU Member States where MagnaLatch® ALERT is sold. For example, if the MagnaLatch® ALERT is only to be sold in the UK and France, you are required to register for the separate WEEE and Battery compliance schemes in those countries.
To assist the Producer with the WEEE and Battery registration processes, a copy of D&D’s MagnaLatch® ALERT product specifications and Battery Material Safety Data Sheets and RoHS certificate are available below:
To remind you to recycle, D&D’s MagnaLatch® ALERT product manual and supplied batteries are marked with a crossed out wheelie bin symbol. Click here to locate your closest participating recycling centre.
MagnaLatch® ALERT is powered by one ER14250 Lithium Metal Battery. Lithium Batteries are designed to provide a longer operational lifespan, thus creating less waste in comparison to ordinary alkaline batteries. Due to the high power density of Lithium Batteries, Lithium Batteries are currently classified as Dangerous Goods under IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulation (DGR).
Handling of Lithium Metal Batteries
We recommend that any returned MagnaLatch® ALERT must NOT contain Lithium Metal Batteries. To remind you to recycle, Lithium Metal Batteries supplied with the MagnaLatch® ALERT are marked with a crossed out wheelie bin symbol. Click here to locate your closest participating recycling centre.
To view our D&D’s MagnaLatch® ALERT product specifications and Battery Material Safety Data Sheets, please click here.
Replacement Lithium Metal Batteries
Replacement Lithium Metal Battery for your MagnaLatch® ALERT can be purchased here.
You can take any old electrical equipment to participating civic amenity sites (often known as ‘household waste recycling centres’) run by their local councils.
Please remember that this equipment will be further handled during the recycling process, so please be sure to remove any non-electrical product (for example food waste).
AUSTRALIA
You can locate your closest participating recycling centre using  Recycling near me. Please remember to have your postcode to hand.
NEW ZEALAND
You can locate your closest participating recycling centre using  https://www.epa.govt.nz/ Please remember to have your postcode to hand.
NORTH AMERICA
You can locate your closest participating recycling centre using  http://1800recycling.com. Please remember to have your zip code to hand.
UK
You can locate your closest participating recycling centre using www.recycle-more.co.uk .Please remember to have your postcode to hand.
Please seek advice from the local participating civic amenity sites.
Australian Packaging Covenant
D&D is signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant to reduce the environmental impacts of consumer packaging.
MagnaLatch® ALERT is the world’s first integrated safety gate latch and alarm. Not only does the MagnaLatch® ALERT eliminate the need of a separate safety gate latch and a separate alarm, but also eliminates the need of having multiple separate packaging associated with each separate unit.
Not only has the MagnaLatch® ALERT opened new opportunities for D&D in terms of packaging, but also responsibly shipping and disposal of Lithium Batteries.
Lithium Batteries are designed to provide a longer operational lifespan, thus creating less waste in comparison to ordinary alkaline batteries. Due to the high power density of Lithium Batteries, Lithium Batteries are currently classified as Dangerous Goods under IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulation (DGR).
D&D will be adopting the IATA’s DGR when it comes to shipping of Lithium Batteries. Most importantly, D&D will be using road or sea transportation in necessary cases to minimise the use of heavily processed 4G / UN specification packaging under IATA’s DGR, 58th Edition 2017.
D&D is currently working alongside logistic companies and couriers in developing a cohesive action plan on the transportation of Lithium Batteries and products packed with Lithium Batteries to minimise the use of heavily processed 4G / UN specification packaging. Minimising the use of heavily processed 4G / UN specification packaging not only reduces the cost of packaging, but also reduces transportation cost by eliminating unnecessary weight.
More information on the Australian Packaging Covenant can be found here https://apco.org.au/