January 2006
Third Delay In Implementing The WEEE Directive
Some have welcomed a further delay in bringing in Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment legislation to enable the government to review implementation and the issues that are still unresolved.
The Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Directive puts the onus on suppliers to legally dispose of products they sell when they are no longer needed by customers. The directive requires producers to pay for treatment and recycling or recovery of all electrical and electronic products, with few exemptions.
The UK implementation of the WEEE Directive was delayed for the third time in December for around six months. This means producer responsibilities relating to the disposal of electrical and electronic waste may not start until early 2007.
In the EU, so-called e-waste or electro-scrap is the fastest growing waste stream, growing at 3-5% a year, which is three times faster than household waste.
Gary Nevison, chairman of the Association of Franchised Distributors of Electronic Components' RoHS Team said: "It is sad news. The UK has lagged behind. The vast majority of EU members have implemented it, but it does vary in description across the continent. In the UK one million tonnes of WEEE material goes to land fill each year and with every delay we are adding to this."
However, others in the industry have a different view of the delay.
Delay welcomed
The delay has been welcomed by many in the industry who feel that the UK just was not ready.
The manufacturers' organisation, the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF), welcomed the announcement by the government that the implementation of the WEEE directive would be reviewed. The EEF claimed that necessary measures are not yet in place to ensure proper implemention.
Gary Booton, director of health, safety and the environment at the EEF, said "This decision is a victory for common sense, as the delay was the only sensible option under the circumstances. Had the regulations been rushed in over Christmas, many companies would have been left in dire straits, wondering how to comply and without the necessary tools or support to do so."
Booton highlights concerns over the method for calculating each company's recycling obligation which has yet to be decided. The EEF also believes that systems are not in place to allow companies to register with the Environment Agency as producers of electrical and electronic equipment.
The Environment Agency also welcomed the decision to delay implementation. Liz Parkes, Head of Waste Regulation at the agency, said: "While we are keen to see producer responsibility implemented for WEEE, we want to be confident that it will deliver real benefits for the environment. We welcome the announcement and will be supporting the policy review to ensure that implementation imposes the minimum regulatory burden for all concerned."
REPIC, the recycling body set up by 53 of the UK's electrical goods manufacturers, also welcomed the announcement of a delay to the WEEE directive. Chief executive Dr Phil Morton says: "To implement such a far-reaching directive was always going to be an enormous challenge. Some serious issues, such as allocation of responsibility for WEEE waste and proper access to civic amenity and other designated collection facilities, remain unresolved."
If you are interested to discuss waste management and issues related to WEEE, contact Steve Stones on 024 7632 3260.
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