Dr Downs, who has been instrumental in drawing up draft UK regulations for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), is to join the Royal National Institute for Deaf people. He leaves before WEEE regulations are finalised and implemented into UK law this summer.
”We are moving ahead with the WEEE and ROHS Directives as planned.“
– Dr Mark Downs, head of recycling policy, DTI
Since becoming head of the recycling policy for the Department of Trade and Industry in November 2000, Dr Downs has made a major contribution to many areas of UK recycling legislation including packaging waste and batteries as well as waste electronics.
Speaking to letsrecycle.com, Dr Downs said: “I am moving outside the Department to the Royal National Institute for Deaf people to work on their research and business development. I will be managing the research portfolio, dealing with technology issues and the commercial side.”
Although a final date has not yet been set for his departure, Dr Downs is likely to leave the DTI in April and a new head of recycling policy is expected to be identified within the next two weeks.
Moving ahead
Despite his imminent departure, Dr Downs said the government's timetable for WEEE would proceed as planned with the deadline of the second consultation on March 1.
“We are moving ahead with the WEEE and ROHS Directives as planned,” he said. “As many people leave submitting their response to the last few weeks, we are expecting quite a lot of responses in the next couple of weeks.”
Before joining the DTI's Environment Directorate in 2000, Dr Downs worked in the DTI's Innovation Unit and at the British National Space Centre. From 1996, he also spent four years in Japan as First Secretary for trade policy at the British Embassy in Tokyo.
In his new role, Dr Downs said he is aiming to continue to have strong links with Whitehall and Europe, lobbying for the rights of deaf people.
For more information on the implementation of the WEEE Directive, see the letsrecycle.com electronics recycling section.
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