RoHS cost: $32 billion and counting
It's not easy (or cheap) being Green. Just ask buyers at electronics companies who had to switch parts—and, sometimes suppliers—to comply with the European Union directive.
By James Carbone -- Purchasing, 6/12/2008
When the European Union (EU) announced it would ban the use of lead and five other substances from electronics equipment, many industry executives said the law would cost the electronics industry billions of dollars.

It turns out they were right.

In fact, the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive cost the global electronics industry more than $32 billion for initial compliance and about $3 billion annually to maintain compliance, according to a study done for the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) by researcher Technology Forecasters Inc. (TFI).

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