Electrical equipment is the fastest growing category of rubbish across the European Union, with around 20kg per person produced every year. The UK alone now generates around 1m tonnes of waste electrical equipment annually.
The Government has now published draft regulations, guidance and its timetable for implementation of the EC Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (referred to as WEEE) in the UK.
The Directive introduces producer responsibility for WEEE. It is intended to persuade producers to design more eco-friendly products which can be more effectively reused and recycled to reduce future levels of waste. Under the proposals, manufacturers and importers will be responsible for ensuring that they plan for both their new and existing products to be recycled rather than dumped. Producers will have to finance treatment and recycling/recovery of separately collected WEEE in the UK to specified treatment standards and recycling/recovery targets. Retailers will have an obligation to offer take-back services to householders.
The WEEE Directive covers a huge spectrum of waste products including:
The consultation marks the beginning of the final phase of the Government's process for implementing the Directive. The key proposals are:
This legislation has been delayed on several occasions. However, affected businesses which have yet to prepare for it do now need to ensure they have plans in place ready for its implementation. The regulations are due to come into force on 1 January 2007 with the first compliance period for producers commencing on 1 April 2007. Full producer responsibility will commence on 1 July 2007.
This consultation does not seek views on the provisions of the Directive itself but on the UK's proposed interpretation of it. The consultation document is available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/page32448.html.
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