Samsung, Hewlett Packard, Panasonic, Toshiba, Dell and other electronics companies have called for changes to the UK's compliance system for the EU waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directive, saying the cost of compliance is too high, Lets Recycle reports. The companies made the statement through the Joint Trade Associations, a group of eight trade groups in the electro-technical industries. At the same time, the chief executive of producer compliance program Electrolink warned that if the cost of compliance is reduced for manufacturers, city councils may end up paying more for WEEE recycling. The UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is holding a consultation on proposed changes to the system, Lets Recycle says.
The Austrian Environmental Agency, as a consultant to the European Commission, has released a draft manual outlining a methodology for restricting substances under RoHS2, PCB 007. But electronics industry body IPC says it has significant concerns regarding how substances will be evaluated for restriction. Lobbying efforts by the IPC and other industry groups kept RoHS2's Annex II from including additional substance restrictions when it was published in June 2011, but the regulation called on the European Commission to review additional substances for restriction, which it must do by July 2014.
Texas Roadhouse will open its first LEED-certified restaurant in Deer Park, N.Y., on June 3, Business First reports. In building the location, the company has recycled construction debris and used regional materials.
Two Quantico, Va., buildings owned by Washington Real Estate Investment Trust have achieved LEED Silver for Existing Buildings certification, the Fort Mill Times reports. Real estate services company Cassidy Turley led the effort to improve energy performance, reduce potable water consumption, optimize indoor environmental quality, improve sustainable landscaping and offset energy consumption with renewable energy credits.
Gaedeke Group's 16-story, 165,843 sq ft Regency Plaza in Dallas has earned LEED Silver for Existing Buildings, CityBizList reports. Built in 1985, the multi-tenant tower also serves as headquarters for Gaedeke, an investment group. The building earned points in the Innovation category for a solid waste management program for durable goods.
Haihong Artificial Plants Manufactory, a Chinese maker of imitation trees, flowers and other plants, received RoHS certification from PONY Testing International Group. The tests found that lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBBs and PBDEs were all within allowable limits, the company said.