Service offers help in advance of WEEE compliance

Leading producer responsibility scheme Valpak has launched a precompliance service for the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Leading producer responsibility scheme Valpak has launched a precompliance service for the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

The service offers members key information and advice regarding the WEEE Directive, including a timetable of events and an overview of the various options for Producers and Retailers.

An integral part of the service is its influencing function, which enables members to have input into consultation responses and representations to government.

The scheme has already signed up several members, including leading electrical consumer goods manufacturers Miele and Brother, together with Hornby, the manufacturer of Hornby Trains and Scalextric.

Michael Sadler, Head of the WEEE Precompliance Service at Valpak, explained: "We have been approached by many Valpak members telling us that they need a reliable and expert information service for the WEEE Directive".

"As the UK's leading expert in producer responsibility, Valpak is ideally placed to offer this".

"We have a respected voice at government level, and significant experience in implementing producer responsibility legislation".

"Our precompliance service provides members with the knowledge to prepare their organisations for the pending legislation and to make the right compliance decisions".

The cost of joining the service is GBP 500 for companies with a turnover of GBP 5 million or less, and GBP 1000 for members with a turnover above GBP 5 million.

Valpak packaging compliance members are entitled to a 25% discount.

WEEE precompliance service members will also receive discounted membership of any final compliance scheme, although there will be no obligation to join this.

Sadler continued: "Valpak intends to launch a full compliance offering once the legislation is set - we do not believe it is responsible or realistic to offer companies full compliance at this stage, when no-one can say for certain what shape the legislation will take".

"Members of our precompliance scheme will have the opportunity to feed into Valpak's final compliance scheme business plan".

"Valpak will now have a focused team looking at workable solutions on both sides of the directive".

Tony Stephens, Administration and Facilities Director at Miele explained that Valpak's service seemed ideal for its needs.

"As a company which is potentially significantly affected by the legislation, we felt that Valpak's service offered the best option for us", he said.

"They have significant knowledge and expertise in this area, and they seem to be ahead of their competitors in understanding the legislation".

"We think their scheme offers the best advice and representation, at the best value".

Louise Marshall, Corporate Risk Manager at Brother added: "Valpak's precompliance service offers a strong and effective voice for influencing, which is essential for us".

"The fact that we can also help to shape the workings of any final compliance scheme is also an extremely important part of their offering".

"We are confident that as the UK's leading producer responsibility scheme, Valpak will provide the best and most workable compliance solution for us in meeting the demands of the directive".

And Eric Edmonds, Logistics Manager at Hornby, added: "There are many issues surrounding WEEE, including the scope, implementation and cost, that are very uncertain".

"We feel that Valpak's precompliance service will be able to answer our questions and represent us effectively at government level".

"We want to address these issues now rather than wait until 2005 - with Valpak we feel that we're ahead of the game".

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