Navigating the ever-changing patchwork of regulations can be difficult, particularly for companies with diversified operations in a number of different countries. In Europe compliance is becoming increasingly more complex as directives place more and more pressure on producers. Here are just a few:

• WEEE or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. Probably the most important and widespread directive throughout all 29 EU and EEA member states. Any manufacturer of Electrical Equipment is required to properly label, take back, recycle and dispose of products and equipment. They are also responsible for comprehensive registration and reporting throughout product lifecycles.

• EuP – Energy using Products is a new European Union directive covering product design. It was created to guarantee that equipment has been designed to comply for the full product lifecycle, from the acquisition of raw materials through manufacture, to eventual disposal.

• Batteries Directive – has been in force for over 16 years. Many countries insist that battery disposal is managed responsibly.

• Eco-Labelling – Companies are expected to promote social responsibility and compliance in manufacturing environmentally safe products with specific labeling and certification.

• RoHS – Restriction of Hazardous Substances. This covers electrical and electronic equipment in all 25 European Union member states, and other countries across the world. Producers are now required by law not to include many materials in new product manufacture.

Security is also foundational to everything we do. We adhere to the NIST 800.88 standard for data security and have employed substantial physical and network security measures to ensure your data is safe. Many of our facilities are equipped with walk-through metal detectors and manned by onsite security guards. Buildings are monitored by encompassing CCTV and alarm systems to provide further peace of mind around the clock. Specific receiving, processing and storage areas have additional cameras with all video digitally stored and retained for 90 days. Door access is controlled by a centralized control and monitoring system and offered only to the relevant personnel.

Legislation and import/export regulations vary widely from one country to another and are constantly evolving. This is incredibly complex at the global level and requires a partner with the level of expertise and scale to navigate this landscape. Consider the depth of knowledge needed to pick up an asset, export it legitimately from that country, and import it legitimately into another country.

Knowing what you can and cannot export/import. Knowing the transportation requirements. Knowing the regulatory agencies involved. Knowing the paperwork required and how to complete it. Knowing all of that for the country you need to import it into; and avoiding delays and penalties in the process. Interwoven in this are international regulations and industry certifications; regulations like Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal and certifications like R2. You need a partner that can to manage the compliant flow and processing of every asset across local, regional, country level, and international laws/regulations as well as industry level standards. The complexity of this ecosystem is incredible.