High interest in retail WEEE compliance scheme tender

And, the organisation has said that it has had a total of 15 applications to run the scheme from various companies across the waste management sector.

” I think it is unusual for a trade association to be involved in something like this for as long as we have, but we are now ready to pass it on to another organisation to run it “
– Nigel Smith, BRC
Following two years of talks the BRC were told by the Department of Trade and Industry in May to go ahead with plans for a retail compliance scheme, which would fund an “adequate collection network” for waste electrical and electronic equipment. The organisation also then evaluated the kind of upgrades needed at sites and how much would be needed (see letsrecycle.com story).

Speaking at the letsrecycle.com organised conference on finance, Nigel Smith – corporate social responsibility director at the BRC – said that he hoped to have the compliance scheme in place in three to four weeks.

“I think it is unusual for a trade association to be involved in something like this for as long as we have, but we are now ready to pass it on to another organisation to run it,” he said. “Hopefully have someone in place in three to four weeks.”

Signing up


Mr Smith said that the first job of the compliance scheme would be to set about getting the retailers signed up to the scheme.

He explained: “We have already spoken to the retailers that are signed up to the BRC, we also have several trade organisations signed up as well. It will be the winning bidder's job to get these companies signed up as well as speaking to the organisations that we have not spoken to.”

Mr Smith also set out the timetable that the BRC were hoping to work to. Under its plans the scheme provider would begin work in August and the recruitment would start immediately. An adequate network of sites would then be presented in September with the funding released in October. This would allow the local authorities to receive the funds well in advance of the expected January start date.

Although this is what the BRC is hoping for, Mr Smith reiterated that it was only a provisional plan.