| Suppliers of scientific equipment are now responsible for taking back old electronics equipment at the end of its life, under the new WEEE directive, which came into force in August. Many well known names in photonics, including Thorlabs, Melles Griot and Coherent, are working hard to comply with the new directives. The use of six toxic materials, including lead, mercury and cadmium, in electronics goods is being banned under the RoHS directive, which is active from 1 July 2006. Images: (left) Don Mason, Corbis; (top right): Alan Schein, Zeta/Corbis; (bottom right): ChromoSohm, Corbis. |
