WEEE collection rate hits 32% in 2013

WEEE collection data for the third quarter of 2013 shows that the UKs WEEE collection will need to rise by more than 10% from current levels to meet mandatory 2016 collection targets.

However, it is hoped that incoming reforms to the waste electrical and electronics (WEEE) recycling regime will help to increase the amount of material that is recorded as collected.

The provisional data published this week (December 3) by the Environment Agency, shows that a total of 125,183 tonnes of household and non-household WEEE were collected for recycling between July and September 2013.

And, when added to the provisional totals for the first and second quarters of the year, the data shows that a total of 365,814 tonnes of WEEE were collected throughout the first nine months of 2013.

This is slightly down on the tonnages collected for the same period during the previous year, when 382,933 tonnes were collected. But, the falling tonnage is not seen as a barrier to meeting recycling targets and is largely attributed to lightweighting of newer products and falling consumption caused by the financial downturn.

WEEE collection targets are currently being met comfortably in the UK, with EU Member-States required to collect a minimum of 4kg of WEEE per capita. To date in 2013, around 5.6kg has been collected per person.

However, under changes being brought in as part of the recast WEEE Directive, collection rates will be calculated proportionately by linking to the amount of new electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) placed on the market.

From 2016 the collection target will rise to around 45% of the total weight of new electrical products placed onto the market during the three preceding years.

When applied to the 2013 data, this equates to a collection rate of around 32.78% for January to September when compared to the amount of new electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) placed onto the market during 2010-2012.

This is slightly down compared to the same period for 2012, when a collection rate of around 33.41% was achieved, however the UK went on to achieve a collection rate of 35.37% across the year once tonnages for the final quarter were recorded (see letsrecycle.com story).

‘Consistent’

Dr Philip Morton, chief executive of compliance scheme Repic commented that the collection rate for Q3 has remained broadly in-line with that seen across the year.

He said: The overall level of WEEE collections has remained consistent with quarter two. Display equipment WEEE collections continue to be affected by the impact of product light weighting and other technology changes but it is encouraging to see that more cooling appliance WEEE is now being separately captured.

In general, it is not possible to draw conclusions on the data in isolation, it is necessary to look behind the data to see whats happening in terms of trends and new technologies. And as we move to a target based system next year, this will be important in the setting of future collection targets.

‘No surprises’

Meanwhile, Vikkie Fitzgerald, project manager at producer compliance scheme Clarity said that the figures had not thrown up any shocks for schemes, and broadly remained in line with trends witnessed in the retail sector over sales of new goods.

She said: The quarter three data hasnt thrown up any big surprises, with either EEE placed on the market or WEEE being collected.

Category 11 (display equipment) has experienced a decrease in WEEE versus the increase in EEE. This makes sense when you consider the increasing numbers of LEDs, LCDs and plasmas that are entering the WEEE stream. These figures are set against an increase in the sales volumes of category 11 as the UK tentatively starts spending again.

She also commented that there had been a sharp rise in the number of category 12 EEE cooling appliances placed onto the market, which she claimed could be attributed to the trend for American style fridges amongst consumers.

She added: This rise in category 12 has been apparent through our own network, with more category 12 collections coming through Recycle with Clarity, as well as an increase in data from the category 12 members of our WEEE compliance scheme.

New legislation coming into force in January 2014 will allow reprocessors to give substantiated estimates of the amount of WEEE treated outside of the WEEE system, which will count towards the overall collection rate.

This is among a raft of changes to the UKs WEEE system to incorporate the revisions to the WEEE Directive and to address claims by producers of electronic equipment that compliance with the current regime does not represent the actual cost of recycling.

Other measures to be introduced include the setting of mandatory targets for compliance schemes in order to prevent evidence trading and greater choice for councils to self-treat some WEEE streams.