Caring for you and the environment
Environmental Report- Business
WEEE Directive Implemented
After four years of consultation and two years after its deadline, the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) Directive came into force on 2nd January 2007. The legislation affects producers (manufacturers and importers) and distributors (on-retailers and distance sellers) of such electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).
The WEEE Directive implements the principle of 'extended producer responsibility' by addressing the environmental impacts of WEEE and encouraging its separate collection and subsequent treatment, reuse, recovery, recycling and environmentally sound disposal. Producers of EEE must register to join a compliance scheme by 15th March 2007 which will provide a producer registration number and sets in motion an agreement to stamp all EEE products with the crossed out wheelie bin symbol by 1st April 2007.
Producers are financially responsible for the cost of dismantling and treating of WEEE for reuse or recycling to an equivalent amount of EEE that is produced. This must be done only at approved authorisation treatment facilities (AATF).
Distributors are responsible for the acceptance of WEEE and have two options to ensure compliance; an in-store take-back service, or to join a collective take-back scheme managed by Valpak. The latter option will see retailers contribute a total of £10 million towards work to improve local authority civic amenity sites that have opted to become designated collection facilities (DCFs). Such DCFs will receive £6,000 for improvements with up to an additional £3,000 available on a case by case basis. However, the Local Government Association (LGA) has issued a warning over the formation of 'television mountains' unless business 'stumps up' more money for the requirements of DCF. The LGA estimate the running cost of a large civic amenity site at £9 million every year and that the one off payment is insufficient for needs.
Until the scheme is fully operational, the cost of treating EEE returned in-store and to DCFs will be shared among retailers according to market share. Following this, the producer registration number will provide an accurate interpretation of treatment and disposal costs for producers and distributors.
Any businesses using EEE must comply with the new regulations, meaning you must store, collect, treat, recycle and dispose of WEEE separately from your other waste. Similar to Waste Transfer Notes, you must obtain and keep proof that your WEEE was given to a reputable waste management company and treated and disposed of in an environmentally sound way.
Disposal is free if you were sold the equipment after 13th August 2005 or if you are replacing with equivalent EEE. This service will be delivered through the producer take-back scheme.
You must pay for WEEE where you are discarding EEE purchased before 13th August 2005, or where you are not replacing EEE with an equivalent. Payment must also be made if you can not trace the producer or their compliance scheme, or if you choose to negotiate with producers to accept the cost of treating and disposing your WEEE.
For more information please visit www.netregs.gov.uk or for a breakdown of responsibilities under the scheme visit www.valpak.co.uk.