WEEE Latest Developments
This page is intended to provide up to date information on current policy developments in Europe and the UK that are likely to impact on companies and organisations that have an interest in the UK Regulations on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
Revised WEEE Directive – Next Steps
The original WEEE Directive was published at the beginning of 2003 and obliged the European Commission to submit a report to the European Parliament and European Council within five years, along with proposals for revisions to the original Directive.
The Commission published proposals for a “recast” of the Directive in December 2008. Negotiations were concluded in December 2011. The European Parliament voted in support of the revised Directive in January and European Council is expected to adopt the text of the revised Directive shortly. BIS will consult later this year or early next on necessary amendments to the UK WEEE Regulations. We will use that opportunity to consider other improvements we should make to the UK WEEE system that are good for business whilst ensuring environmental objectives are achieved.
Improving the UK WEEE Regulations
The Red Tape Challenge was launched by the Prime Minister on 7 April 2011. It gives business and the public the chance to have their say on some of the more than 10,000 regulations that affect their everyday lives.
The outcome of the Environmental Theme of the Red Tape Challenge was announced on 19 March 2012.
Electrical producers told us the amount they have to pay for the collection, treatment, recovery and recycling of their market share of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) through producer compliance schemes is often much higher than the true costs of processing WEEE.
BIS will introduce regulatory changes to address these concerns by 2014. One option is giving producers a fixed minimum tonnage to finance, based on their market share. Another is a new central allocation system for local authority sites to help the schemes fully align collections with their members’ obligations. Options for change will form part of the proposed consultation necessary as part of the process for introducing the requirements of the revised WEEE Directive in the UK.
BIS will work with industry in the short term to find an interim solution. One option is to calculate obligations based on the data from a previous compliance period to reduce uncertainty and help producers pay a more accurate amount.
Separately, an industry led Working Group established by BIS is currently considering the issue of Individual Producer Responsibility and the extent to which it could be introduced into the UK at a practical level. The Group is due to submit its report by the end of July 2012.
Further information available from envregs@bis.gsi.gov.uk
