Final WEEE date revealed

Manufacturers must deal with the safe disposal of electronic waste from July 2007

Following four delays to the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive, the government has today announced that producers will become responsible for recycling electronic waste produced in the UK from 1 July 2007.

The announcement coincided with the launch of a final consultation on the directive, which will run from today until 17 October, and marks the beginning of the final phase of the government's process of implementing the WEEE directive.

Malcolm Wicks, Energy Minister today gave business a clear timetable for implementing the EC Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
Launching the government's consultation on the key proposals to be introduced from 1 July 2007, energy minister Malcolm Wicks, said: "Electrical equipment is the fastest growing category of rubbish across the European Union, with around 20kg per person produced every year, and the UK alone is now generating around 1m tonnes of the stuff every year."

"These proposals are good for consumers, good for responsible producers and good for our environment. By providing a way of ensuring that electronic waste no longer has to go to landfills, manufacturers and importers will have the responsibility to ensure that they plan for both their new and existing products to be recycled rather than dumped. In announcing full producer responsibility I want to provide those businesses who have yet to take up their obligation with the certainty they need in order to plan for implementation," said Wicks.

However, it still remains unclear as to whether resellers and distributors fall into the category of "producers".

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called for the government’s implementation of WEEE to be affordable and easy to understand.

John Holbrow, FSB environment chairman, said: “We’re pleased that there is a full consultation on this directive because it could cause monumental damage to small retailers if the government gets the implementation wrong.It is unfortunate that there is no exemption for the very smallest businesses, who can ill afford the expense and bureaucracy involved in taking back unwanted electrical goods. It is, therefore, even more important that the new rules are practical, affordable and easy to understand."

“The last thing we need is an expensive, bureaucratic mess. Hopefully, it won’t come to that," he added.