Recycling (Going Green)

[hockeycanuckjc Trusted Contributor]

It sounds like a good thing, for every computer component i see out there now.... so just what does that compliance certify or mean?

[Allan-BBY Community Connector]

Hey hockeycanuckjc,
 
RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive that was adopted by the European Union in February of 2003, and took effect on July 1st of 2006. The directive restricts the use of six different hazardous substances in the manufacture of electronic and electrical devices. The six substances that are restricted are Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent chromium, Polybrominated biphenyls, and Polybrominated diphenyl ether.
 
Each member of the European Union is responsible for its own enforcement of this directive. This directive has no relevance to customers in the U.S.A, but if you want to read more about this directive you could go to the RoHS website.
 
Thanks for posting,
Allan
Community Connector
Best Buy® Corporate

[MobileExpert]

And because of this, we now have capacitors and solders that don't last as long. I'm all for environmental protection, but if you don't have a comparable solution lined up, don't bother.

[Allan-BBY Community Connector]

Hi MobileExpert,
 
I will take your word that because of this directive by the European Union the quality of consumer electronics has suffered. Many decisions in life require the choice between different solutions, and there is not always a perfect solution to choose from. When the choice is between the safety of consumers (and the health of the world), and the quality of consumer electronics I would personally always take the side of safety.
 
Thanks for posting,
Allan
Community Connector
Best Buy® Corporate

[MobileExpert]

I've seen it in a lot of electronics blogs. Capacitors now use liquid substrate, which is why so many mobos have a problem with swelling and bursting capacitors. Lead solder just can't be beat for durability. Materials banned by RoHS can be recycled, it's just expensive to do so.

I bet eventually the EU will start pushing more and more on the US to adopt similar regulations, and then these inferior materials will make their way over here. This will increase complaints about consumer electronics. In most cases it's impossible to demand environmental responsibility while at the same time complaining that your TV or computer doesn't last as long.

[Allan-BBY Community Connector]

Hi MobileExpert,
 
I will definitely agree that if a person demands environmental responsibility that the same person should never complain about the costs involved. Since electronics and electrical devices manufactured for the European Union already have to be compliant to the ROHS standards it is very likely that these same products are manufactured to the same standards for the U.S. market. An electronics manufacturer is unlikely to drastically change its manufacturing standards for each market that the same model will be sold in. You will never hear me complaining about this directive since it makes the world a safer place for me and my family to live in!
 
Thanks for posting,
Allan
Community Connector
Best Buy® Corporate