The PAS 141 specification has been developed by industry experts working with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to improve overall standards for the treatment of discarded electrical and electronic equipment in the UK.
It is hoped that it will address demand from consumers for reassurance that used equipment is electrically safe to use and functionally fit for purpose.
Treatment facilities looking to achieve PAS 141 status will be independently assessed by UKAS-accredited certification bodies to ensure they meet the standard. Accreditation of the first UK certification body will take place this summer with more likely to follow.
Registration
Producer compliance scheme Valpak has been appointed as PAS 141 scheme administrator by BIS to administer the certification schemes and registration of a trade mark and use of labels.
Reused equipment from PAS 141 approved organisations will carry labels to identify that they have been processed in compliance with the standard, which it is hoped will reassure customers and regulators.
The developers of the specification claim that as consumer confidence rises in the quality of reuse WEEE, more green jobs will be created in the UKs growing reuse sector.
The specification will also be used to differentiate bona fide exports from illegal exports of WEEE under the guise of being sent abroad for reuse.
Export
European Union waste shipment guidelines call for a test to differentiate between reuse and the illegal exports of waste but fail to specify what test is required. The specifications creators say that PAS 141 sets out the tests to fill this gap and will be used by the UK environmental agencies to focus efforts on stopping illegal exports.
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is currently looking for UK-based certification bodies to gain accreditation to issue PAS 141 status for those organisations that meet the standards set out in the specification. Companies interested in becoming accredited to offer PAS 141 certification should contact UKAS on the details below.
Details of the PAS 141 scheme were unveiled last April, ahead of the specifications launch this year (see letsrecycle.com story).
Certification bodies interested in being accredited to offer PAS 141 certification should contact David Hayward at UKAS.
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