Photo Imaging Council launches WEEE compliance scheme

The Photo Imaging Council Compliance Scheme (PICCS), will be offering a pre-compliance service specifically for photo imaging companies, with a full compliance scheme to follow once regulations are finalised.

”Because this scheme is geared specifically towards the photographic industry it is able to go much deeper than a simple WEEE compliance scheme “
– Stephen Clark, managing director of Budget Pack
Under European law set to come into force in August this year, producers of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) will take responsibility for collection and recovery of equipment they place on the market. Some producers are likely to deal with their responsibility individually, but many will join compliance schemes that will take care of their obligations.

The PICCS service, which will officially begin operations on February 1, has already signed up Photo Imaging Council members Fuji, Olympus, Konica Minolta, Praktic and Kodak.

Announcing the scheme, PIC chairman Gerry Dingley said: “PIC strongly recommends that you join and determine the company's readiness for responsibility under the regulations and avoid getting caught out by them.”

Budget Pack has said that it is offering companies who sign up to the pre-compliance scheme service on an individual basis, rather than simply informing members of developments in the WEEE schedule.

Individual assessment

Stephen Clark, managing director of Budget Pack, said: “We will be assessing each company specifically to work out what they need to do and when. As the regulations are not completely known yet some of the companies do not realise that they will be obligated. We will be helping them to ensure they are as ready as they can be when the regulations are finally ready.”

Best option

Mr Clark said: “Because this scheme is geared specifically towards the photographic industry it is able to go much deeper than a simple WEEE compliance scheme. We believe that our scheme is the best option for those companies involved with the photographic side of WEEE.”