BIS launches much anticipated WEEE consultation

The much anticipated public consultation into the governments overhaul of the UKs waste electrical and electronic equipment compliance system has been launched today (April 17).

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has urged stakeholders to submit their views during the nine week consultation period, the outcome of which will shape the future of the WEEE compliance for recyclers and producers of electronic equipment.

BIS has indicated that it has two preferred options:
(a) setting compulsory targets for compliance schemes, or;
(b) central allocation of Designated Collection Facilities (DCFs) for schemes.

If either of these options are adopted, it will represent a complete transformation of the current process, which allows schemes to trade evidence, and compete for council contracts.

Sections

The consultation has been divided into three sections. The first outlines how the government plans to implement the changes required to bring the requirements of the recast WEEE Directive into UK law, including implementing higher collection targets and the wider scope of the Regulations.

Section two details the proposals that have been drawn up to reduce the administrative burden on businesses who are required to comply with the legislation, and to bring the cost of compliance down, after concerns that the current system does not represent the actual cost of recycling.

Section three covers changes to the powers of entry provisions related to the enforcement of the WEEE Regulations.

Alternatives

As previously outlined by BIS (see letsrecycle.com story), three options for alternative producer compliance systems have been proposed, as well as a fourth option to continue without change to the current system.

These options are:

• No change and continue with the current system;
• Introduce a National Producer Compliance Scheme, instead of competition between current compliance schemes;
• Setting targets for compliance schemes along with a compliance fee if these are not met, instead of the trading of WEEE evidence data between collection schemes, and;
• Matching collection sites to compliance schemes.

No single option is preferred by the government, although in its consultation notes, it is revealed that options three and four are being favoured by BIS.

The proposals are also intended to simplify the compliance system for small producers which fall below a de minimis threshold of EEE placed on to the market and to provide greater flexibility for local authorities to maximise the potential income from WEEE collections.

Business-friendly

Commenting on the launch of the consultation, business and energy minister, Michael Fallon, said: We always seek to implement EU law in the least burdensome and most business-friendly way in consultation with industry. Simplifying compliance and cutting red tape are underlying principles behind this consultation.

These proposals are a direct response to concerns that have been expressed by both large and small producers of electrical of electrical and electronic equipment about the cost of compliance.

I urge all businesses with an interest in WEEE to comment on the consultation and tell us how they want the UK system to operate.

The consultation ends on June 21, and the government plans to publish its response within eight weeks. The new regulations are expected to come into force from January 1 2014, with guidance notes set to be available at least 10 weeks before.