WEEE services launched in Manchester

Emerge Recycling, which is based in East Manchester, is offering free or low-cost collections for appliances from dishwashers to ovens under its Appliance Reuse Consortium (ARC) and Green IT! Schemes.

Launch: (l-r) Anthony Quinn, project manager at Emerge Recycling, Carol Roberts and Dave Marsden of Axiom Tech, Lucy Danger, managing director of Emerge Recycling

The initiatives, which are designed to provide low-cost second-hand appliances to local communities, are also intended to reduce waste costs for businesses in the Manchester area.

This is especially important as new regulations governing WEEE come into force in July, which will make electronic retailers and producers financially responsible for recycling waste electronics.

Lucy Danger, managing director of Emerge Recycling, said: “The WEEE Directive is confusing for small businesses who don't necessarily have the time or resources to employ large scale waste disposal contractors.”

Ms Danger, who is also chair of the community recycling network added: “Both our schemes are aimed at the 58,000 SME's across the Greater Manchester area offering a WEEE compliant collection service with obvious community and environmental benefits.”

ARC
Under Emerge Recycling's ARC scheme, retailers and housing associations will be offered a free take-back service for ovens, washing machines, tumble dryers and microwaves. Fridges and freezers will incur a small charge. Once the appliances have been collected they will be assessed and either repaired or recycled for scrap.

The Green IT! Scheme will specifically collect IT waste for a flat rate 15 minimum charge, with no minimum volume collection amount which may dissuade smaller businesses from signing up.

Both schemes are funded by Defra through the Business Reuse Fund, and one company who joins before March 31 will win a green IT prize from Emerge Recycling and Green IT consultants Axiom Tech.

A spokewoman for Emerge said: “Many SMEs know that they should not bin their electronic waste but don't know what to do with it, so Emerge wanted to set up a scheme to cater for small businesses.”

She added: “Some larger WEEE waste contractors have joining fees of up to 250, which is too much for a lot of small businesses to pay. Meanwhile, we only have a small flat call-out rate, and try to recycle appliances for the benefit of the community. Both schemes are also fully certified to take WEEE.”

• Defra has confirmed its Business Re-use Fund will continue for a second year, 2007/8. Through the fund 1.5 million is available for community sector projects that help businesses re-use their waste, but the fund is closed to new applicants. Project manager Barrie Billinghay said: “Taking into account the reduced amount available, this year’s fund will only be made available to existing Business Reuse Fund projects. This will ensure that the work can commence promptly and that the hard work and successes to date can be built upon.”