Local authorities can now register sites as official collection points for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) under the UK's new producer responsibility system. Also, authorised treatment facilities can now apply for approved status from the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) wrote to councils this month, as well as other organisations involved with electronic products, in order to clarify how they want producer responsibility for WEEE to operate from 1 July 2007.
Councils and third party organisations who are planning to run designated collection facilities (DCFs) for WEEE can now apply for approval by going to the Distributor Takeback Scheme (DTS) website, which is run by Valpak.
Applications to operate DCFs can be made throughout the year, but in order to guarantee approval before the 1 July start, applications must be in by 4 May 2007. Those approved as DCFs will be given at least £6,000 funding per site by the DTS, in order to pay for upgraded collection facilities for WEEE. From 1 July, they will be able to have WEEE cleared from their sites by producer compliance schemes free of charge.
In other WEEE news, a new independent, non-departmental body called the "WEEE Advisory Body", is being set up to advise the Government on the continuing development of the WEEE producer responsibility system. Amendments to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations SI 2006/3289, are also currently being drawn up, to deal with a number of issues that have arisen. These amendments will be in force for the 2008 compliance year, and we will keep you updated on any progress.
