Producers told to map out WEEE clearing house

The department said this gap in the WEEE proposals posed “major timetable challenges” and producer groups needed to thrash out how the clearing house would work.

The comments come in its third consultation, published today, on the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. The consultation covers draft regulations and guidance for the collection, treatment and recycling of waste electronics in the UK and how this will be managed and financed to meet the requirements of the European Directive.

Although the European Directive requires Member States to transpose WEEE regulations into domestic law by August 13, 2004, it seems unlikely that the UK will do so until later this year. The laws begin to come into affect in August 2005 and the first targets for collection, recycling and recovery are in 2008.

A national clearing house was proposed by electrical goods manufacturers, who are obligated to pay for the treatment and recycling of WEEE. Under the proposals, the clearing house would act as an interface between manufacturers, retailers and local authorities collecting WEEE, recyclers and the government.

It is thought that discussions as to how the clearing house should operate has been the major cause of the delay to progress on the draft regulations (see letsrecycle.com story).

Delays

Clearing house
In the latest consultation paper the government has admitted that details of the clearing house – which it abbreviates to NCH – still have not been decided and could cause further delays. It said: “The establishment of an NCH poses a major timetable challenge. The government expects the producer community, which has pressed strongly for an NCH, now to take a leading role in taking this forward.”

The department added that it now wants producers to set up a small group to take the NCH plans forward, consulting with other interested parties. And although a section is included in the draft guidance on possible structures for a clearing house, it will not be covered in the final guidance.

Other issues discussed in the consultation include how compliance schemes for manufacturers and retailers should operate, how costs will be allocated and take-back obligations for retailers and other collection methods.

The deadline for responses is October 29, 2004, and all the documents relating to this and the two previous consultations can be viewed on the DTI's website. http://www.dti.gov.uk/sustainability/weee/index.htm