The ERP survey, entitled ‘ERP UK: WEEE and Batteries Survey 2009: Looking Back, Looking Forward', aimed to find out the biggest challenges for those in WEEE industry over the last year and identify potential issues for the year ahead on WEEE and the forthcoming waste battery regulations.
In addition to public awareness, economic turbulence was noted as having impacted on the sector over the past year, as 87% cited materials prices and 35% said a drop in EEE sales and WEEE returns had been challenges. Evidence trading remained a theme for many, with nearly two thirds (64%) acknowledging that balancing obligations had been an issue.
The survey claimed that there is a lot of enthusiasm for national battery collections to begin, as nearly half (44%) of respondents said they wanted collections to start as soon as possible and a further 39% were happy with the chosen January 1 2010 start date while only 17% wanted collections to be delayed until spring 2010 or later.
At present, eight compliance schemes – including ERP – have applied to the Environment Agency in a bid to operate schemes in the UK, with the Agency set to announce successful tenders on September 30 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Respondents expected to be affected by national battery recycling regulations said that low consumer awareness on battery recycling (47%), cost of compliance (53%), development of batteries collection network and facilities(47%) and regulations and guidance from government (33%).
Scott Butler, general manager at ERP, said: “Local authorities, retailers and WEEE schemes are clearly enthusiastic about national battery recycling. Nearly half say they'd like it to start as soon as possible. But they are concerned that low public awareness will be an issue, as it has been for WEEE.
“Once the government chooses battery recycling schemes in the autumn, the schemes will have to get up and running very quickly. Whilst the challenges are significant, we look forward to using our experience and skills in helping to build the battery collection network the UK needs,” he added.
Completed between April 24 and May 11 2009, ERP surveyed representatives of 16 producer compliance schemes, eight retailers of EEE / batteries, 19 producers of EEE/ batteries, three trade associations, five national government, 19 AATF or AE and 44 representatives of local authorities and WMCs from across the UK.
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