The EU's Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive
and the Restricting Certain Hazardous Substances (ROHS) Directive
in electrical goods came into effect in February last year, to be
implemented in all Member States by August 2004 - although the UK
will miss this deadline.
Both Directives apply to a wide range of products, including IT,
telecoms, TV, Video, hi-fi, electrical and electronic tools, toys,
sports equipment and medical devices.
The WEEE Directive sets criteria for the collection, treatment,
recycling and recovery of waste electrical and electronic
equipment. It makes "producers" responsible for financing most of
these activities, and the Department of Trade and Industry suggests
a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment and an unlimited fine
for those failing to comply. Producers include manufacturers and
resellers of equipment purchased outside the EU. Private
householders are to be able to return WEEE without charge.
The ROHS Directive facilitates the dismantling and recycling of
waste electrical and electronic equipment by restricting the use of
hazardous substances used in their manufacture.
The UK Government first consulted on the implementation of the
Directives in March and then November last year. This new
consultation was due to take place prior to the summer, and its
late release means that the UK will miss the implementation
deadline of 13th August.
The consultation papers set out the regulatory framework for the
implementation of 'producer responsibility'. This imposes an
obligation on retailers to offer consumers free take-back of WEEE
from August 2005 - either through an in-store take-back program, or
membership of a take-back compliance scheme that would fulfil
collection obligations on behalf of the retailer.
The consultation also confirms the Government's aim to continue
to work with business to establish the National Clearing House
(NCH) for WEEE. The NCH, which the Government says is widely
supported by stakeholders, will co-ordinate the collection of WEEE
from central sites and administer the allocation of obligations to
producers.
The Government seems to expect that it will be difficult to
reach agreement on the NCH, commenting in the report that "The
establishment of an NCH poses a major timetable challenge." It
calls upon waste producers to take the lead in moving the NCH
forward.
Responses to the consultation document are required by no later
than 29th October 2004.
