The Leicestershire-based company argues that it is being expected to pay unfairly large amounts to fulfil its WEEE recycling obligations based on the quantity of fridges it has imported into the UK.
However, Husky's chief executive, Geoff Thomasson argues that producers who have signed up to schemes are facing unrealistically high costs as a result due to having to cover the responsibilities of unregistered producers, as well as older fridges.
“There is currently no date restriction on the return of domestic fridges,” he said. “Husky is contributing significantly towards the disposal cost for fridges sold 10-20+ years ago, when we were not even in the domestic marketplace.”
He also took issue with the accuracy of the charges in relation to the environmental impact of the fridges they had responsibility for, claiming that the “charge is simply guesswork by the authorities”.
“At a time when the industry – and the public – needs clarity and fairness regarding this type of environmental action, we are facing financial penalties that are unquantifiable. It means that Husky and other registered importers are subsidising importers who are not registered and therefore paying nothing towards effective disposal,” he said.
Last month, the Environment Agency, one of the key agencies involved in the enforcement of the WEEE regulations in the UK, warned that it was in the process of actively tracking down producers who should be registered with a PCS but had not yet done so (see letsrecycle.com story).
BERR has previously warned producers that, if they fail to sign up to a scheme, they could face a fine of up to £5,000 in a magistrates' court or an unlimited fine in a Crown court.
Husky's concerns were backed by the company's local MP, Andrew Robahan, Conservative MP for Blaby, who said: “The situation does seem very unfair and I will be bringing the matter to the attention of the Secretary of State of Business, Enterprise and Regulation.”
“The effect of these EU regulations is only just being felt and will have far-reaching consequences for UK importers. The Government needs to ensure the rules it imposes are fair, reasonable and applied effectively.”
Subscribe for free