While the producer compliance scheme is remaining guarded about the new venture, it did hint that it could involve expanding into compliance services for packaging waste and ultimately batteries.
eWEEE has been set up as a multi purpose compliance vehicle for producers
Dr Philip Morton, REPIC
Speaking to letsrecycle.com last week, REPIC chief executive Dr Philip Morton said it would be offering a “broader” compliance service to its members than the existing service for the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations.
He said the launch of the scheme, under the newly-incorporated firm RESC Ltd (see letsrecycle.com story), was being carried out in response to requests from REPIC members.
Dr Morton said: “eWEEE has been set up as a multi purpose compliance vehicle for producers. It will be actively marketed in 2008 as a B2B and B2C WEEE compliance scheme. It will form part of a broader Compliance offering within RESC.”
REPIC was launched by three leading trade associations in the electronics market – AMDEA, SEAMA and Intellect – in 2004, initially taking a role in lobbying government as it sought to adopt Europe's WEEE Directive. The Directive, which requires electronics manufacturers and importers to fund the collection and recycling of old appliances, came fully into force this July.
The companies who now pay REPIC to take care of their WEEE obligations are also required to pay for packaging waste to be recycled under the EU Packaging Directive and are likely to fund battery recycling activities under the EU Battery Directive from 2010.
Dr Morton would not comment further on the role of eWEEE, saying only that more information about it would come next year.
Concerns
There are strong concerns within the rest of the WEEE producer responsibility system at REPIC's intentions for its new scheme, in particular the possibility that it could provide a vehicle for REPIC members in the event that it does not comply in 2007. These fears arise because another scheme – Electrolink – is holding collection evidence needed by REPIC to meet its members' WEEE Regulation obligations.
As yet no resolution has been confirmed publicly between REPIC and rival scheme Electrolink with respect to the trading of collection and recycling evidence.
At the moment, both sides appear to be standing firm in their respective corners – REPIC adamant that it will not be forced to pay excessive amounts for WEEE collected on behalf of other schemes, Electrolink keen to benefit from its strategy of collecting far more WEEE than its members require.
Commenting on REPIC's dealings with WEEE evidence, Dr Morton would say only: “REPIC continues to be working within the code of practice with a range of service partners and other PCSs across the UK very successfully, and our collections from DCFs are running smoothly.”
Dr Morton was recently appointed to the government's WEEE Advisory Body (see letsrecycle.com story), potentially giving him a voice in advising ministers on the progression of the WEEE Regulations – a voice that rival scheme Electrolink does not have.
He said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to the WEEE Advisory Body and I am looking forward to working with the rest of the members to help develop the best WEEE solution in Europe for all stakeholders.”
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