The green, green path to WEEE

But as a sector where can we play our part? What environmentally fuelled bandwagon is there for us to leap onto (while clutching our Innocent smoothie)? The ongoing saga of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive, which has been floating around the sector and the government for more than three years now, is finally beginning to gain some clout.

In 36 days the directive, which states that the producers of IT such as flat screens, printers and consumables must be responsible for retrieving them and disposing of them in an environmentally friendly way, will become effective in the UK. Full compliance must be undertaken by July 2007.

Of course, while things concerning the government are never as simple as they might like to make out, this particular law has been more contentious than most, especially for the channel. The government, and more specifically the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), has left an ambiguous silence as to how resellers and retailers fit into the equation, and how the directive could impact their businesses.

However, a recent consultation between the industry and the DTI has led many to believe that the government body is finally listening, and will implement some changes to help ease implementation of the directive.

But worryingly, in a recent survey only 39 per cent of IT managers said they understood the implications of the WEEE directive, which means it could become a tough sell for resellers who are trying to encourage their customers to comply. There is an opportunity for VARs here, to revisit their customers and explain to them the repercussions of non-compliance by July, but it will be the well-prepared, smarter, greener VARs who are successful.