CA sites not only option for WEEE, says government

In a newly published response to a parliamentary committee report, the government reconfirmed that it does not want to see any new burdens on local authorities due to the WEEE Directive. Collection points on retail parks, bring events, take back on delivery and even kerbside collections are still being considered as alternative or additional options for the separate collection of WEEE, it said.

The WEEE Directive calls for the separate collection, treatment and recycling of waste electrical goods but places the financial responsibility for this on producers, such as manufacturers and retailers.

However, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee told the government that local authorities' CA sites have a “crucial role” in the separate collection of household WEEE.

In response the government agreed that existing infrastructure, including CA sites, was important in implementing the WEEE Directive. But it added: “The government recognises that the WEEE Directive does not place obligations on local authorities, and therefore, the government will not place and new unfinanced burdens on local authorities.”

Instead, the said it has proposed to “incentivise” local authorities to separately collect WEEE, by setting up a fund for them to bid into to upgrade their CA sites. The proposals were detailed in the last consultation on the WEEE Directive and involved a fund of 10 million a year, made up of money from retailers. Of this 5 million would be set aside specifically for local authorities.

Permission

The EFRA Committee also expressed concerns that local authorities that decided to upgrade their CA sites to take WEEE would face problems gaining planning permission or amending waste management licences.

Responding to these comments, the government said that DEFRA is reviewing waste management licensing system in a view to replace it with a permit scheme. This is intended to come into operation this summer, the same time as the WEEE Directive should be transposed.

In terms of planning procedures, the government said: “Extensive planning reforms are being taken forward by government and will lead to a thorough overhaul of planning's performance.”