WEEE or not to WEEE?
Published: 07 March, 2006
There is something quite sad about the thought of a fridge, computer and television graveyard. Piles of unwanted, outdated or broken electrical goods stuck in limbo, waiting to enter their next life.
The pace of technological development is so rapid that we do not expect our technical goods to last forever these days. The EU has recognised the increase in the amount of electrical waste we are now producing and has developed a new piece of legislation to help reduce the amount of EEE (Electrical and Electronic Equipment) waste that we send for landfill or incineration.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive is aimed at reducing the waste from electrical equipment, increasing recovery and recycling rates of WEEE and improving environmental performance of all operators involved in the life cycle of electrical and electronic equipment.
It is estimated that up to 75,000 retailers will be affected by the legislation. Retailers, or distributors who sell to an end user include: high street shops, shopping centre stores, internet traders, telephone and catalogue retailers and any businesses that supply EEE to the customer free of charge.
So how exactly will shopping centres and other outlets be able to cope with this new legislation? Will customers be expected to bring back their old, unwanted electrical goods to the shop? What health and safety issues does this raise and what extra space will be required?
The Department of Trade and Industry originally asked the British Retail Consortium (BRC), to draw up a plan of action as they represented a large proportion of retail organisations.
The BRC received the 'green light' from the Government in May 2005 to proceed with its proposal for a retail compliance scheme under which, retailers can put money into a central pot, which will be used to upgrade civic amenity sites so they are better prepared to accept WEEE and can become a designated collection point. Independent analysis has confirmed the cost of upgrading the 1,074 civic amenity sites around the UK at £8.2 million. Under the scheme, retailers will contribute to a central fund on a level proportionate to their current market share. Retailers will still be required to provide consumers with information regarding collection points for WEEE at point of sale.
After going through the tender process, producer compliance company Valpak was selected by the BRC to operate the scheme. Valpak will be responsible for creating an adequate WEEE collection network by recruiting local authority civic amenity sites. Business development manager James Skidmore says: "Retailers of EEE will be able to fulfil their retail obligation by joining the WEEE Retail Scheme. The scheme will give retailers a more practical alternative to setting up free in-store take-back of WEEE."
"It may be the case that if local authorities don't want to become involved with the scheme we will have to find alternatives." Skidmore continues: "We would be looking for other collection points, which may include recycle banks such as those used for glass and plastic collection, for smaller electrical items such as hairdryers and video players etc."
It seems plans are in place but as the government has recognised more time is needed to put the plan into action. The WEEE Directive has now been delayed three times, however previous timelines were widely acknowledged as being unworkable. Skidmore explains: "The delays have been necessary and have given us more time to work with the authorities in setting up the scheme and to establish an adequate network of collection facilities."
There is widespread understanding that the legislation requires a lot of planning and preparation. Work is well underway for the retail industry and practices will need to be in place at the earliest opportunity to ensure compliance with the WEEE Directive ahead of implementation date.
The June 2006 due date was postponed indefinitely in December 2005. No new date has been given but Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has promised consultation on the regulations in the Spring.
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Fact File:
Companies producing electronic and electrical products which fall into one of ten broad product categories will have to comply with EC Directives if they want to continue to sell these products in European Union member states.
Ten categories of WEEE:
1. Large Household
2. Small Household
3. IT and Telecommunications
4. Consumer Equipment
5. Lighting Equipment
6. Electrical and Electronic Tools
7. Toys Leisure and Sports
8. Medical Devices
9. Monitoring and Control Instruments
10. Automatic Dispensers
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For more information:
[http://www.dti.gov]
[http://www.brc.co.uk]
[http://www.valpak.co.uk]
