I think this is more an indictment on the stupid laws that the EU gives us rather than the common sense attitude being display by Oxford...

"For any Reg readers in the Oxford area, we recommend you steer clear of any university library bins and the river Isis in the near future."

Ooh I don't know I'd suggest the opposite... there's probably going to be all sorts of interesting stuff kicking about in those bins.

Oxford University Library may just have noticed, but the WEEE directive has been in force for months:

http://www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/sustainability/weee/page30269.html

Maybe they got distracted trying to decide which particular bits of crappy clipart they should use for their memos, and let the deadline slide past them?

Let's hope they replace their stock with lots and lots of Vista machines: the extra drain on the national grid would more than compensate for any reduction in their environmental impact.

Mark Fenton commented that the new WEEE regulations are an indictment of EU stupidity.

I'd suggest it is us, and our extremely wasteful attitude that is stupid. The WEEE rules will mean people will have to reappraise their old irresponsibly profligate ways.

Yes, getting manufacturers to become responsible for environmentally sound disposal is stupid. Because all it does is - at a low cost increase to the consumer - avoid all the toxic effects of pcb and other hazardous materials leaching from disposed electrical items into our soil and water table. Oh, and as manufacturer's have to face up to waste costs, makes them more aware of the real cost of the parts they put in. So it cuts down on toxic pollutants, means you don't have to source the environmental option yourself, and at a cheap rate to boot.

Idiot.