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03 Aug 2010
Comments:4
Fears have been raised about the future of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive (WEEE), following the axing of its advisory board, WAB.
Business secretary Vince Cable announced last month that WAB, along with three other quangos, was facing the axe as part of the government’s drive to achieve efficiency savings.
It was also confirmed that responsibility for work carried out by WAB in overseeing the implementation of WEEE would fall to the Department for Business, Innovations and Skills (BIS).
Further reading
A BIS representative told CRN that the department would “seek to continue the important work WAB has done” by working with the board’s existing members.
Despite this assurance, members of the IT disposal channel have expressed concerns about how the directive will be enforced and managed in the future.
Jon Godfrey, director of Sims Lifecycle Services, said the internalisation of WAB’s responsibilities within government could make it more difficult for the industry to provide feedback about WEEE.
“WAB was the key way for us to provide real-life insight into how workable the regulations are,” he said. “There is a concern that its closure will mean this is something we will not have an opportunity to do any more.”
Godfrey said that with cost cutting at the top of the government’s agenda, the enforcement of the regulations could also suffer.
“The Environment Agency is responsible for enforcing the regulations and its ability to act could be affected if further cuts are made,” he warned.
Askar Sheibani, chief executive of IT and telecoms repair company Comtek, blasted the decision to close the doors on WAB, claiming that there are far more efficient ways for the government to save money.
“The government should introduce a target to increase the life span of all their computer equipment by three years or more because that would help save money and cut waste, too,” he said.
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Do you agree?
Re: Repair and reuse
Thanks for drawing our attention to this consultation, Terry - it's good to hear that the government is looking to encourage organisations to break away from wasteful business practices and use ICT equipment for longer.
We will definitely respond to the consultation with our thoughts in due course.
Posted by Askar Shiebani, CEO of Comtek | 16 Aug 2010
Re: Repair and reuse
Thanks for drawing our attention to this consultation, Terry, it's good to hear that the government is looking to encourage organisations to break away from wasteful business practices and use ICT equipment for longer.
We will definitely respond to the consultation with our thoughts in due course.
Posted by Askar Shiebani, CEO of Comtek | 16 Aug 2010
Kroll Ontrack - Our view
Regardless of how the UK government handles e-waste management in the future, it's essential for individuals, businesses, public sector organisations and others to responsibly dispose of end-of-life data stored on old computer hard drives and storage media, and, where possible, ensure that the data is destroyed to an appropriate level by CESG certified means. This is to guard against data breaches, which can result in fines of up to £500,000 following the ICO ruling which came into effect in April, as well as significant damage to an organisation's reputation. All organisations have a duty of care to uphold whenever they handle and store personal details or other sensitive information.
Posted by Phil Bridge, Managing Director, Kroll Ontrack Data Recovery | 06 Aug 2010
Repair and Reuse
Askar Sheibani makes a very good point and it's not before time that the voice of those involved in repair and refurbishment is heard and notice taken.
How many in the industry know that the Government is planning a reuse standard and development is far advanced. The British Standards Institute is carrying out a consultaion but who is being consulted? You can bet that the large manufacturers are having their say. Encouraging reuse is a great way to extend the life of products thereby reducing waste and conserving raw materials that are becomin scarcer by the month. Not only that but reuse cuts carbon emmisions (80% of a PC's carbon emmision is produced during manufacture not during use) and the additional jobs created by a flourishing repair and refurbishing industry would be very handy.
Lets hear more Askar and if you want to respond to the consultation go here http://drafts.bsigroup.com/Home/Details/549
Posted by Terry Maguire | 04 Aug 2010
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