UK WEEE proposals gain support

Not-for-profit recycling body Repic has given its support for the publication of the UK DTI's key proposals to be introduced under the WEEE Directive.

Not-for-profit recycling body Repic has given its support for the publication of the UK DTI's key proposals to be introduced under the WEEE Directive.

But it urged the Government to ensure that its latest round of consultation was more representative of the industry.

Chief Executive Dr Philip Morton commented: "There have been several steps in the right direction but more are needed.

We are encouraged to see that the Government has listened more carefully to stakeholders' real concerns, especially regarding free and unfettered access to physical WEEE".

"But we believe that the WEEE Advisory Group remains incomplete in its representation of the industry by excluding major schemes such as Repic".

Positive developments welcomed by Repic include: support in the Government's draft regulations and guidance for the structured allocation of WEEE to producers: Repic and other potential compliance schemes have formed the WEEE Scheme Forum to administer a national allocation system that would be administered at arm's length to ensure its independence.

This has received positive responses from local authorities, waste disposal and unitary authorities, some retailers and the British Retail Consortium.

In order to qualify for collection by producers, all household WEEE must pass through a designated collection facility.

It must not be "cherry picked" for its more profitable items beforehand.

Safeguards will be put in place to prevent exploitation by deliberate over-processing.

Compliance schemes must only seek to collect WEEE to meet, not exceed, their members' obligations.

Safeguards will also be in place to reimburse schemes that inadvertently over-collect due to inaccurate allocation.

Caps will be introduced on the amount that can be traded through an exchange, the level of which is part of the consultation process.

Producers' obligation will be based on the ten categories of WEEE.

This better reflects their true obligation, rather than the Government's earlier proposal to treat all WEEE as equal.

The onus will be on producers to maximise reuse of waste equipment.

This will prevent preselection and cherry picking before the producer or compliance scheme responsible for site clearance has access to it.

Repic is actively engaged with the reuse sector and believes that reuse is a win for everyone.

A clear distinction is drawn between producer and retailer responsibility, especially where companies are both.

Producers or retailers with producer obligation can use WEEE from their own take-back activities to fulfil their obligation and make any surplus available to schemes that require it.

If a company over-processes WEEE beyond its obligation it cannot sell or trade the surplus.

A recognition of the importance of funding historic WEEE costs.

The government clearly recognises this by including a specific question in the consultation document.

Dr Morton commented: "The intention of the regulations is clearly to minimise or eliminate trading wherever possible and requires the co-operation of all compliance schemes to make this work.

We are committed through the WEEE Scheme Forum to seek the most inclusive, low cost and fair system of allocation and have had very constructive meetings with a wide range of stakeholders, from local authorities to interested retailers".

He concluded: "We are heartened by the progress made to date, although some of the Government's actions do continue to puzzle us".

"The timeline for implementation may appear to be a year but actually there is very little time to put the key structural elements in place like the DCF network and producer registration and allocation".

"In particular, the proposed two-stage method for the provision of evidence of compliance needs further thought".

"Repic shall continue to play a constructive role on behalf of our members in preparing for implementation of the Directive in July 2007".

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