The Department of Trade and Industry is coming to the end of a series of awareness-raising seminars this month, in which government officials have said they are starting the process of implementing the European WEEE Directive with “no preconceived ideas”.
The next step in the process will be the consultation paper, to be published by April or May 2003. This is currently being drawn up by the government's WEEE implementation team, which consists of economists, legal experts and policy officials from the DTI, the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency.
Talks have already taken place between this implementation group and interested parties, including representatives from local authorities and the business sector. Focus groups have been used as sounding boards for the document, and Whitehall officials are now deciding whether to opt for a three-round or a two-round consultation process.
Issues being looked at include how WEEE data would be reported, and how the restriction of hazardous substance (RoHS) regulations would fit in with implementation legislation.
Scope
One of the most significant concerns of the implementation group is thought to be scope of the WEEE regulations. Officials are looking for more detail from the European Commission on exactly which electronic items the Directive covers. A report from the Commission on this is expected by the end of February, but officials have indicated that UK regulations may see up to 10 different categories of equipment, and there could be different collection and treatment solutions for each category.
One industry analyst told letsrecycle.com that having 10 different schemes for 10 different WEEE categories could be extremely complicated.
Other topics that need clarification before the consultation paper is finalised include the financing of WEEE collection and treatment systems, the possibility of retailer take-back schemes and whether to have a visible fee for historical waste.
Producers of electrical and electronic equipment do not share a single view on the issue of historical waste, which is further complicating matters. Retailers generally have one view on in-store take-back schemes: they are not keen, fearing difficulties in training staff to handle the wide variety of end-of-life products.
Local authority concerns centre on whether there will be any burden on them resulting from the WEEE implementation system. However, officials have been keen to stress that any system eventually set for the UK would not hand councils additional costs.
For more information on the WEEE Directive, see the letsrecycle.com legislation section.
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