The two companies have been working together as the pre-compliance scheme Transform since early 2003, but according to Biffa's general manager of recycling development, Phil Conran, a Transform compliance scheme would see the waste management company working alone.
” Assuming that the regulations are workable, we believe we will be able to offer an extremely effective solution for companies' WEEE compliance needs. “
– Phil Conran, Biffa
He said the two companies would maintain a close working relationship, but both would also be free to work with other companies.
The Directive, now expected to come into effect in 2007, will make manufacturers and importers of electrical equipment responsible for recycling waste items. These companies will be able to use compliance schemes to carry out the recycling obligations on their behalf.
Mr Conran told letsrecycle.com: “Transform has been a Biffa and EMR vehicle. It combined the strengths of the two companies – Biffa in logistics and compliance and EMR through reprocessing. But if Transform does operate as a compliance scheme it will be Biffa-run.
“This will allow EMR to offer their services to all other schemes and of course we would still work closely with them. We would also be able to turn to the other treatment plants that are springing up all over the country,” he added.
Experience
If Biffa does decide to start Transform up as a compliance scheme, it will already have experience in providing collections for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). For many months, it has operated a national collection service for WEEE, both from businesses and retailers.
Working closely with electrical waste collection specialists W&S; Recycling, Biffa is now able to arrange collections through a single call. “This is not a pilot scheme,” said Mr Conran. “Whether it is a single fridge in Swindon or a lorry load of televisions in Stirling, we can provide the necessary collection and disposal services.”
He said Biffa was now handles around 15,000 units of electrical waste every month collected from commercial and retail premises through W&S.;
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Biffa's experience in managing civic amenity sites under local authority contracts also give Transform an insight into the issues that compliance schemes will have to deal with when the Regulations are implemented, Mr Conran said.
“We will have to see what the WEEE regulations look like before we can make the final decision on whether we should apply to be a compliance scheme,” said Mr Conran. “But assuming that the regulations are workable, we believe we will be able to offer an extremely effective solution for companies' WEEE compliance needs.”
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