The principal aims of the event, which will be addressed by minister for energy Malcolm Wicks, are to review the work priorities of two sub-groups established to implement the body's remit, and to agree its recommendations for the European Commission's forthcoming review of the WEEE Directive.
In particular, tomorrow is the deadline for the first sub group to provide its preliminary report to the full body. The group has examined the current UK system for WEEE recycling and will be offering feedback on data issues which have caused significant debate recently.
Last month the Environment Agency revealed that figures it had issued for the first six months of the WEEE producer responsibility system, from July to December 2007, contained several errors, as well as over-reporting by Veolia's producer compliance scheme (see letsrecycle.com story).
The second sub-group, which is charged with examining matters including individual producer responsibility, reuse, business-to-business and the impending EC Review, is not scheduled to deliver its preliminary report until the next meeting, on July 10, though it will be expected to update the body on its progress.
Representatives from the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and both the Northern Irish and Welsh administrations, as well as Defra, are all expected to be in attendance tomorrow.
The work implantation plan for the body states that both sub-groups can make “immediate recommendations to BERR where applicable”, with the WAB expected to issue a full progress report, including recommendations, to the department and ministers at least once a year.
Created last December, the WAB has 13 members, including representatives from producer compliance schemes, waste management firms and reuse organisations, and is chaired by former banker Peter Caliafas (see letsrecycle.com story).
Register for free to comment