RoHS and WEEE - Information

WEEE Product Disposal Instructions
Product Identification

The symbol opposite and on the product means that the product is classed as Electrical or Electronic equipment and should not be disposed with other household or commercial waste at the end of its useful life. The Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive (2002/96/EC) has been put in place to recycle products using best available recovery and recycling techniques to minimise the impact on the environment, treat any hazardous substances and avoid the increasing landfill

Product disposal for residential users.
When you have no further use for it, please remove any batteries and dispose of them and the product as per your local authority recycling processes. For more information please contact your local authority or the retailer where the product was purchased.

Product disposal for business users.
Business users should contact their suppliers and check the terms and conditions of the purchase contract and ensure that this product is not mixed with other commercial waste for disposal.

VITEL and the WEEE Regulations.
Vitel Home & Office Electronics has an obligation under the WEEE regulations both as a 'Producer' and as a supplier of electrical products. We understand our responsibilities and provide the following guidance for these important regulations.

The term 'WEEE' defined.
WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. Full details of the WEEE regulations can be obtained from the Mepa web site.

The term 'Producer' defined.
You are defined as a 'Producer' if the products you supply fall in to any of the following categories -

• You import (from the Far East or Europe) products for sale in Malta
• Re-brand existing products and sell them in the Malta

Household (also referred to as Retail /Consumer / WEEE).
Green MT has been contracted a license by Mepa to manage the householder WEEE scheme in Malta.
If you supply/sell electrical/electronic products to this market sector you must register Green MT. Vitel is registered with this scheme - For further details of this scheme visit Green MT’s web site www.Greenmt.com.mt.
The aim is that everyone in the supply chain contributes toward the recovery and treatment of WEEE. Consumers will be directed to dispose of WEEE through local amenity sites.

Historic WEEE.
The legislation came in to force on 15th March 2007 with take-back requirements starting 1st July 2007. All products placed on the market before 13th August 2005 is deemed to be 'Historic WEEE'. The thick black line underneath the wheelie bin sticker denotes WEEE placed on to the market after 13th August 2005. Historic WEEE should display a date below the bin logo or will carry no sticker. Producer responsibility is different for Historic and newer WEEE only in relation to Business waste (B2B).

Business WEEE (B2B).

Producer Responsibility for Historic WEEE
Business customers must dispose of any WEEE themselves, where they are not replacing it with a like for like item. If the item is being replaced by a like for like item the replacing product Producer has the responsibility to collect and dispose of the old item.

Producer Responsibility for New WEEE
For WEEE placed on to the market after 13th august 2007. The Producer of the waste item is responsible in all cases for recovery and disposal. There are several producer schemes and many producers, which will provide varying recovery routes for Business customers. Vitel Home & Office Electronics is registered with the Mepa Compliance Scheme - WME/00283/07 We are working closely with all our suppliers and will update this site as these schemes develop.

RoHS - What is it?.
RoHS ("Restriction of use of certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment") is a EU Directive that restricts the use of 6 hazardous materials (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, Polybrominated Biphenyl and Polybrominated Diphenylether) used in the manufacture of various types of electrical and electronic equipment.

When does it take effect?.
From 1st July 2006 any new product manufactured in, or imported into the EU (in practical terms this means 'put onto the market') must be compliant.

What about products already on the market?.
This Directive does not apply to products already 'on the market' and available to customers before 1st July 2006. They can continue to be sold.

What about repairs and replacing parts?.
Products put 'on to the market' after 1st July 2006 must be repaired using compliant components. Older non-compliant products can be repaired using either compliant or non-compliant components.

RoHS Compliance..
We support this environmental initiative and will ensure all products comply with the EU Directive from 1st July 2006.

Are all products to be marked indicating compliance?.
No, there is no requirement for product marking.

Product Compliance Status..
We are currently working with all our suppliers to establish the compliance status of all products. It is envisaged that both compliant and non-compliant products will be available for sale for some time.

Product will fall generally into the following four categories:
RoHS Compliant - the manufacturers of this item have confirmed that it complies with the standard.
RoHS Non Compliant - this item contains substances restricted by the RoHS directive.
RoHS compliant status unknown - we are investigating the compliance status of this product with the manufacturer.
RoHS Exempt or Not Applicable - this product is exempt from the RoHS regulations or does not.

Vitel Home & Office Electronics Adopts FAIR initiative
20 January 2007

Following the launch of the National Euro Changeover Committee’s FAIR initiative on 29 December 2006, Vitel Home & Office Electronics is proud to announce its participation in the voluntary dual display initiative.

Participation in the FAIR initiative is a commitment by Vitel Management to take up and communicate best practices in preparation for the changeover. It also provides the Company with an opportunity to undertake a commitment towards fair pricing strategies during the changeover period.

Dual display of prices is applicable to the entire range on display at our Showroom in San Gwann. Above all, Vitel Home & Office Electronics will continue to work hard to provide its customers with the peace of mind that upon euro adoption, all MTL-based products will be converted to their euro-equivalent.

For further information please call on 21 377172.

Vitel Participâtes in the Government Energy Efficient Rebate Scheme

Further to the introduction for Energy Efficient Appliances Rebate Scheme offered by the local Government , Vitel Home & Office electronics submitted all relevant documentation and registered it's partecipation in the scheme. This enable us to offer Class A household appliances eligible for the rebate. Products displayed at our showroom which are eligable for the rebate can be identified through a sticker shown above. As part to offer a better service towards our customers, we make sure that all applications are fully completed including the labels and Fiscal Proof.

MRA Rebate Application Form