The Retail Compliance Scheme is being established by the BRC to help retailers to comply with Europe's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. The Directive requires retailers to set up free take back services for waste electronics to be recycled.
”Valpak’s experience in the field of producer responsibility was a significant contributing factor in making this decision. “
– Nigel Smith, BRC
Once a contract is signed, Valpak will be responsible for creating an adequate WEEE collection network by recruiting local authority civic amenity sites. According to the BRC, 82% of local authorities have expressed an interest in upgrading and numbers will be confirmed over the coming months.
Valpak will also recruit retailer members to the scheme, which will encompass both large retailers and a significant number of smaller businesses. The BRC has already identified over 4,000 businesses obligated under the WEEE Directive, which is to come into force in June 2006.
Experience
Andrew McCaffery, head of business development at Valpak, said: “The BRC has made us preferred bidder because of the experience we have as a compliance schemes and with retailers.
“We have worked with companies such as Tescos through our WEEE pre-compliance scheme so the retailers know what we are capable of doing,” he added.
The BRC has said that this network will be put into place at the earliest opportunity to ensure compliance with the WEEE Directive ahead of the June 2006 implementation date.
BRC Director of corporate social responsibility, Nigel Smith, commented: “The responses to our tender were of extremely high standard but Valpak’s experience in the field of producer responsibility was a significant contributing factor in making this decision.
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“We now look forward to working with Valpak in order to deliver WEEE compliance for retailers,” Mr Smith added.
A formal meeting is to take place soon to finalise the details of Valpak's contract.
Letsrecycle.com is holding a special conference on the way forward for waste electronics on October 12. For more details see the letsrecycle.com events page
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