Electrical Waste - the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations
Jan 22, 2007
Author:Trish Morrill

Business waste however is by far the biggest category and electrical waste an important part of that. Few offices and indeed consumers manage without computers and other electrical equipment. Trish Morrill says:

“How to deal with the waste when products are replaced is a very difficult issue. Producers of electrical goods will, from July 2007, be required to meet the environmental costs of dealing with waste products under new rules published in December.


“By 15 March 2007, producers of this type of waste will need to join an approved producer compliance scheme to ensure that they are able to comply with the EU Directive on which these regulations are based from 1 July 2007. That does not leave a lot of time. If your business is involved in this field let us know. The regulations will:

* Enable consumers to dispose of their electrical waste free of charge at accessible and appropriate places. Consumers will start to see changes from July 2007, with new signs at their local council refuse centres, in shops, and on new electrical products.

* Give distributors the choice of how to meet their obligations by either joining the Distributor Take-back Scheme or by offering customers in-store take-back.

* Allow existing relationships currently managing electrical waste to continue.

* Enable any operator of a designated collection facility to arrange with a producer compliance scheme (PCS) to have the electrical waste deposited at their site taken away for treatment and recycling by that PCS, free of charge.

· Allow for and encourage the re-use of equipment after it has been discarded where possible.
· Allows for the continued collection of old equipment at the same time of delivering new goods by retailers, and some producers.

If you need any advice on this area call Trish Morrill on 01494 521301.