And I guess you were all wondering what (apart from asking for your
support) I was doing about the lead free solder environmental impact
issue..........

 

Since none of the trade organizations seem to be "on" this thing (but if
you are listening YOUR SUPPORT WOULD BE WELCOMED), I emailed the EU
Environmental Commissioner..........attached.

 

I am sure you will all be interested in the response. I will let you
know when/if I receive one.

 

Kind regards,

 

John.

 

http://www.RoHSUSA.com <http://www.rohsusa.com/> 

 

 

  _____  

From: John Burke [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Monday, May 01, 2006 6:40 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
[log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
[log in to unmask]; 'Michael Kirschner'
Subject: Lead in solders replacements - environmental impact
Importance: High

 

Good morning Commissioner.

 

I am writing to you regarding the response to written question
(E-3488/05
<http://www.europarl.eu.int/registre/recherche/NoticeDetaillee.cfm?docid
=158227&doclang=EN> ) from Philip Whitehead where you gave the response
contained in reference P6_RE(2005)3488.

 

In that response it is stated that "if companies can prove that the
elimination or substitution of the banned substances via design changes
or the use of alternative materials and components causes negative
environmental, health and or consumer safety impacts, and that these
outweigh the environmental benefits of ceasing to use the banned
substances, an exemption can be granted."

 

There is a wealth of scientific evidence that has been put together by
authorative bodies, notably the the University of Stuttgart and the US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that do prove that the
eenvironment is badly impacted by the replacements for leaded solders. 

 

The findings indicate that the replacements for lead bearing solders are
far more environmentally damaging in a number of areas. I am therefore
politely requesting that the Commission raise within the RoHS
legislative team an enqury as to how this legislation managed to get to
where it is without this coming to light within the Commission, given
that the aim is to protect the environment.

 

More urgently I am requesting that the Commission consider exempting
lead in solders from the RoHS directive while the matter is
investigated. This request is based on the clear evidence of the
University of Stuttgart and U.S. EPA reports indicating that the
environmental impact of these particular changes negatively impacts the
environment for no benefit.

 

As you are aware, many countries are following the lead of Europe in
banning a number of substances. I am truly concerned that there may be a
"domino" effect created by this (now) obvious oversight,  since the
difference in non replaceable resource is equivalent to 600 liters of
gasoline equivalent wasted for every liter of solder produced lead free,
compared to the existing product.

 

I have published my findings, the link to the full article is here:
http://www.greensupplyline.com/187002293

 

Link to The University of Stuttgart's Life Cycle Assessment
<http://leadfree.ipc.org/files/RoHS_15.pdf>  paper

 

Link to the EPA report on Solders in Electronics: A life-cycle
assessment <http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/dfe/pubs/solder/lca/index.htm> ,
published August 2005

 

 

Respectfully yours,

 

John Burke

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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