A consultation paper was issued yesterday laying out changes to waste management licensing that will bring the environmental standards of Europe's WEEE Directive into UK law.
” This initiative is designed to improve the environmental performance of the facilities that treat electrical waste disposal.“
– Ben Bradshaw
The three-month consultation runs until August 19, with new regulations expected to pass before Parliament during the autumn. Recyclers of waste electronics will be required to hold waste management licenses taking account of the new controls from January 2006.
Existing operators that apply for a new site licence before March 2006 will be allowed to continue operating after January to allow for the application to be processed, but must keep to Directive standards.
Processing facilities will need to meet conditions that will ensure that electrical equipment, as well as parts and components, are recovered as far as possible, Defra said.
Conditions include measures on storage and treatment of WEEE. Recyclers will be required to remove all fluids, hazardous materials and components and treat the materials in such a way as to avoid environmental damage. The standards are set out in Article 6 and Annexes II and III of the WEEE Directive.
Exemption
Defra said that operators already holding a licence exemption that includes the treatment of WEEE must apply for a new site license. However, a continuing licence exemption has been proposed for the repair and refurbishment of electrical items, in order to promote re-use. Exemptions are also allowed for sites used for the storage of WEEE before it is handed over to an authorised treatment facility.
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Commenting on the consultation, local environment minister Ben Bradshaw, said: “This initiative is designed to improve the environmental performance of the facilities that treat electrical waste disposal and ensure the infrastructure is in place to meet the directive's requirements.
“As a consequence we hope recycling in this sector is increased and waste for final disposal is reduced,” he added.
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