With a review of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive on the horizon, channel onlookers have urged the government to improve education and enforcement.

The WEEE directive came into force in July 2007 and a 12-week public consultation is due to start by the end of the year. The consultation aims to decide whether any changes need to be made to the regulations.

Conservative environment representative Anne McIntosh has queried how the government is encouraging WEEE compliant recycling.

Labour MP Ian Pearson responded: “The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has worked closely with all stakeholders and interested parties to ensure that all are aware of their obligations under the regulations. It will continue to do so as and when these are reviewed and changes are made.”

Chris Spooner, general manager of WEEE specialist recycling service Midex, said smelting companies taking receipt of crushed equipment could be asked to do more. “Some of the bureaucracy of the traceability the directive asks for is a nightmare. I would like us to be freer to do the job that we are good at.”

Spooner also claimed many firms still need to get to grips with the intricacies of the directive. “Awareness is still a day-to-day issue; a lot of businesses have heard of it, but are unsure how it applies to them.”

Terry Maguire, managing director of Computer Remarketing Services, claimed businesses and public sector bodies still give little consideration to buying refurbished kit.

“I would like to see more publicity about re-use and encouragement for people to consider that in their buying criteria,” he said.

Maguire also said that more resources could be put into enforcement of the directive.

“It is acknowledged that the enforcement side could do with a shot in the arm. The environment agency has been tasked with this and it is a bit new for them,” he said.