In August 2005 the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) legislation comes into effect followed, in July 2006, by the Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) legislation. The key benefits of the legislation include reduction of water toxicity and the diversion of approximately 340,000 tonnes of waste per year from landfill sites.

In line with the RoHS directive, after 2006, products sold in the EC may contain no more than 0.1% lead, mercury, chromium VI, PBB, PBDE and 0.01% cadmium. Therefore it is not just PCB assemblies that will be affected; it will also be certain products containing glass, plastics and metal.

It is now quite common that companies looking to outsource their manufacturing processes will not consider a supplier which does not have the ISO 14000 accreditation and appropriate environmental management system (EMS) in place.

At Zirkon, an EMS has been in place since 2000, and ISO 14000 accreditation was achieved in 2002.

Over the last 12 months the company has reduced its electricity consumption by 22% and gas by 33%.

This was achieved by turning off lights when a room is empty and setting timers to turn off heating and non-essential products when there is no one on site.

Currently, Zirkon is focusing on the RoHS directive's restriction of lead within products and processes. Zirkon aims to be RoHS compliant by the end of 2004, and to this end is working with all of its clients to make necessary changes to products and processes.

Change over speed depends on product design implications resulting from the higher temperature required for the lead-free soldering process, and the different profile presented by lead-free solder joints.

Tony Inskip has found that customers and suppliers are becoming more and more willing to work with his company on the elimination of hazardous substances.

www.zirkonlimited.co.uk