Recolight points to potential flaws in WEEE system

The UK WEEE system could create potential opportunities for abuse when compliance schemes trade recycling evidence at the last minute to meet their producer members obligations.

That is the message from Nigel Harvey, chief executive of lamp producer compliance scheme Recolight, who this week called for robust enforcement from the environment agencies to address the issue and create a level playing field between schemes.

Speaking to letsrecycle.com, Mr Harvey said, that, in the immediate aftermath of the 2009 judicial review, the situation involving schemes and evidence had got a lot better.

In particular, he highlighted the requirement for viable plans, where schemes have to outline the agreements they have in place if they plan to collect WEEE on another schemes behalf.

But, he said that some last minute trading was still occurring. Its planned at the beginning of the year, which works well until people collect more than they thought they were going to collect or need more than they thought they would need, and then you do get last minute trading.

It is understood that a number of schemes have some concerns about the prices being asked for evidence to meet their members obligations.

Mr Harvey stressed that, for Recolight, most relationships between most schemes are probably very good, and also noted that both the Environment Agency and BIS were aware of the issues.

However, he stressed the need for the regulators to make sure schemes do stick to the rules, claiming that robust enforcement to create a level playing field is all any scheme can and should want.

Growth

Mr Harveys comments come as the Recolight scheme last week marked the fourth anniversary of the July 2007 introduction of the UK WEEE regulations with plans to significantly increase the number of collection points it has nationwide.

The scheme, which was established by the UKs four largest lamp manufacturers to meet their WEEE recycling obligations but now has over 90 producer members, aims to raise the number of drop-off points it has for consumer low-energy bulbs, or CFLs, from 750 to 1,100 within the next year.

Mr Harvey explained this would involve a focus on signing up from signing up one or two other retailers adding to Sainsburys, Homebase and Robert Dyas who all have collection points for CFLs as well as increasing the CoBRA volunteer network.

He also said the scheme was targeting councils, explaining that were talking to a number of them about rolling out the BulbBox Store Maxi because consumers are asking about where they should take CFLs recycling officers are telling us thats one of the more common questions theyre getting.

While volumes of CFLs are currently relatively low, the phasing out of traditional lightbulbs means that by 2014-16, the tonnage of waste CFLs is expected to increase significantly, and Mr Harvey said this meant it was important to put collection points in place now

Its about getting the infrastructure in place, which is also about education, he said. 68% would probably throw a CFL into their black bag, so by putting the infrastructure into place you make people think about it.

Businesses

In terms of lamps from businesses, who collect 85% of the total tonnage Recolight finances the collection and recycling of, Mr Harvey highlighted the early success of the schemes container leasing initiative, launched last month.

This is available to smaller businesses who may not collect enough tonnage of waste lamps to qualify for a free container and collection service from the scheme.

There have been a number of organisations taking us up on it and I think that will increase the rate of growth, Mr Harvey said.

And, he said the scheme planned to increase its number of business collection points further. Its being far more active in going out there and approaching businesses; making contact with facilities management companies and waste management companies, he explained.

He added: The reason that businesses want to access our services is that lamps are hazardous and for a business to dispose of hazardous waste at the bottom of a skip is illegal we provide them with a quick, easy and free solution.