EU WEEE Position Statement

Cisco is committed to meeting the requirements of the European Union (EU) Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. This Directive requires producers of electrical and electronic equipment to finance the takeback, for reuse or recycling, of their products placed on the EU market after August 13, 2005.

Cisco products that are within the scope of the Directive are labeled with a crossed-out "wheelie-bin" symbol, as required by the Directive. It indicates that the product was placed on the market after August 13, 2005 and that end users should segregate the product from other waste at end-of- life.

The WEEE Directive is being implemented in each of the 27 EU countries through national legislation. Norway and Switzerland have also implemented similar pieces of legislation. As a result, the detailed requirements vary considerably throughout the EU, and the Cisco WEEE compliance approach varies among countries. In each country affected by the WEEE legislation:

• Cisco offers a product takeback service to its business customers.
• For Cisco consumer products, including all Linksys products, compliance will be achieved through membership of an appropriate national compliance scheme.
• Cisco will seek to register as a producer wherever local legislation requires or permits it to do.

The Cisco initiative to comply with the WEEE Directive is part of the Cisco Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative Program, which includes:

• Design for environment
• Reduction in the use of hazardous materials
• Product Takeback and Recycling
• Supplier responsibility