Finally WEEE have publication

The hugely anticipated Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations SI 2006/3289 have finally been published. They apply across the UK and will come into force on the following dates:

• 2 January 2007, for general application, producer obligations, scheme obligations and approval of schemes, authorised treatment facilities and exporters;
• 1 April 2007, for the marking of equipment and requirement to provide information; and
• 1 July 2007, for distributor obligations regarding take back etc.

All producers who market electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) in a compliance period, the first of which will run from 1 July 2007 to 31 December 2007, must finance the cost of the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) from:

• private and non-private households;
• designated collection facilities; and
• distributors, that is returned in a compliance period.

Any EEE producer with such an obligation can join an approved compliance scheme, where they will be exempt from complying with their obligation for the length of their membership. Operators of the compliance schemes are then responsible for all financing provisions, as well as the reuse, treatment and recovery of WEEE. EEE Producers also have a responsibility to mark their products with a crossed out wheelie bin symbol, as well as a producer identification mark and a date mark. Information must also be provided on reuse and environmentally sound treatment for each new type of EEE marketed.

In addition, distributors are responsible for providing an in-store take back service for their customers with regard to specific WEEE. This does not apply if they are a member of a distributor take-back scheme.

Non-statutory guidance on these rather "detailed" Regulations is expected to be published early this year.

This article provides a brief overview to the WEEE Regulations, the full summary of which will be included in your February 2007 update. However, should you require any more information on the provisions in the meantime please do not hesitate to contact us.