IT industry body the Independent Trade Association of Computing Specialists (Itacs) has launched a scheme to give financial breaks to Britain’s smaller system builders.

Heavy-handed enforcement of EU waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directives could see many system builders driven to breaking point by compliance issues or crippled by disproportionate costs.

The deal means the fee for business-to-consumer (B2C) waste compliance levied by local councils would be capped at £27.50 per year, through WEEEcare.

Julia Jones, commercial director for UK WEEE compliance provider WEEEcare, said this is a considerable saving because the B2C charge is calculated by taking into account goods produced annually and the amount of WEEE.

“Nobody knows what that figure is yet. You cannot run a small business with the spectre of mystery costs looming over you,” said Jones.

Itacs and WEEEcare will give special deals to smaller firms on WEEE compliance costs. They have created a micromember category of membership to WEEEcare due to come into effect in January.

This means any company that produces less than a ton of electrical product can save £140 on the normal membership fee of £290.

Matt Woolley, Itacs’ chairman, said smaller systems builders need all the help they can get.
“The regulations are heavily stacked against the small business,” said Woolley, “Our goal is to help them compete. Ultimately, we would like to make WEEE cost neutral.”