The Department of Trade and Industry announced today that manufacturers and retailers will be responsible for the collection and recycling of WEEE from June 2006.
” This Directive is challenging and has required a lot of planning and preparation but our priority is to get this right “
– Malcolm Wicks, DTI
According to the DTI, the postponement of six months has been made in the light of preparations needed for the European-set legislation. The DTI claimed that the WEEE Directive “breaks new ground for many of those involved.”
One of the main reasons for the delay is also to allow the retailers, led by the British Retail Consortium, to establish an adequate network of facilities for separate collection of WEEE for householders to use.
The DTI has taken into account continuing concerns expressed by the business community and other stakeholders it said.
Malcolm Wicks, minister for the DTI, said: “This Directive is about dealing effectively with electrical waste, which can be damaging to the environment. It is challenging and has required a lot of planning and preparation but our priority is to get this right.”
The announcement may come as no surprise to some within the industry, as the January date for producer responsibility beginning was deemed “ambitious” when it was announced in March (see letsrecycle.com story).
Relief
Retailers may breathe a sigh of relief at the announcement, as they were originally scheduled to begin taking responsibility for WEEE in January – a traditionally busy time due to Christmas and New Year celebrations.
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Jeff Cooper, manager for waste producer responsibility at the Environment Agency, said: “The Environment Agency will work closely with Government Departments and the devolved administrations to implement the forthcoming WEEE Regulations.
“We expect to be able to announce arrangements for the registration of producers in the early autumn with registration starting in January 2006,” He added.
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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