V.F. Eckerman, the founder of Weeeco Ltd, explains the specifics of the Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment directive.

UK businesses have struggled to fully understand the recently introduced WEEE (Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment) directive into UK Law. It is a concern of government licensed producer compliance schemes that one of the principle objectives of the law, that the producer pays for the environmental disposal of WEEE from household end users, is not filtering down to housing associations.

The norm for many housing associations is they have a waste contractor or several contractors who charge a fee to dispose of the WEEE in an environmentally sound manner.  Several government licensed compliance schemes have challenged this norm by introducing a B2C Take Back Service that  draws down the money from the producers to pay for the recycling of the WEEE from households including voids and maintenance and repair.  

This take back reduces the costs of environmentally sound disposal of WEEE for housing associations and only raise a nominal fee for transport and administration as the producer has already paid for the item to be recycled. The savings can be up-to 80% of their current costs associated to WEEE disposal.

Herein is a question and answer session covering the issue

1. What are the WEEE Regulations?

The European ‘Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment Directive’ (WEEE) was introduced into UK law on 2nd Jan‘07 to deal with the estimated 2million tonnes of WEEE land-filled via business and household end users in the UK each year.

The WEEE directive places explicit responsibilities on Producers to pay for the re-use, recycling, recovery or treatment of their market share when WEEE arises from household end users known herein as B2C.

2. What is a B2C Take Back Service?

A B2C Take Back Service is by invitation only where the producer compliance scheme will pay for the environmentally sound disposal of B2C WEEE arising at a registered member’s site. The member pays for the transport and evidence note administration only when the government licensed scheme collects WEEE Categories 1 – 13. In cases where significant volumes are created the service may be free.

3. Who is a B2C Take Back Service for?

The B2C Take Back Service is for invited organisations who, as a result of their business operations, are responsible for the disposal of waste electrical electronic equipment arising from household end users. Examples would be: housing associations, university campuses, care homes, residential hostels, private landlords etc.

4. Why do I not pay for the recycling of my B2C WEEE?

Innovative WEEE Collection Systems consistent with Regulation 39 of the UK WEEE regulations guarantees that the organisation or business holding the B2C WEEE is only responsible for the transport and administrative elements of its environmentally sound disposal. The cost of the recycling is born by the producers via producer compliance schemes. A WEEE Collection System can only be operated within the UK WEEE Regulations by prior agreement between a WEEE Collection Contractor, a Producer Compliance Scheme, an AATF and a B2C End User (You).

5. What are the key regulatory elements of a B2C Take Back Service?

A suitable WEEE Collection System provides a one stop shop for all 13 categories of WEEE and the regulatory requirements associated with its environmentally sound disposal as required by the UK Regulations including:

• Collection of Hazardous Waste
• EP 40 & 41 where appropriate
• B2C WEEE Collections under Regulation 39
• B2B WEEE Collections under Regulation 9.1 & 9.2
• Tools for retention of compliant documentation including:
• Company WEEE Policy (14001 & 9001 Compliant)
• Mandatory Certification for the WEEE Collection Point
• Mandatory Certification for WEEE Collections Organisation
• Health & Safety Policies for the Storage and Collection of WEEE
• Risk Assessment for WEEE Collections

6. What is the Environmental Performance of a B2C Take Back Service?

A B2C Take Back Service run by a producer compliance scheme is licensed to ensure that their WEEE service adheres to strict criteria demonstrating Environmental Responsibility, Corporate and Social Responsibility and Free Recycling of B2C WEEE that meets BATRRT (best available techniques for recycling recovery and treatment)

To find out more about WEEE visit www.weeeco.com where you can also register for a free no obligation assessment to see if your organisation qualifies for a B2C Take Back Service under regulation 39 alternatively telephone Debbie on 0191 423 6232.