The Government have this month announced that producers and importers of electronic goods will finally become responsible for their recycling from July 2007 through the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive 2002/96/EC. The legislation, which was once planned for August last year, was introduced in every EU nation last summer with the exception of the UK and Malta. It aims to minimise the impacts of electrical and electronic devices on the environment during their life-cycle and when they are disposed of.
Producers will have to finance their treatment and recycling and retailers are obliged to provide a take-back service to consumers.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Minister Malcolm Wicks said, "electrical equipment is the fastest growing category of rubbish across the EU, and the UK alone is now generating around 1 million tonnes every year." The announcement was welcomed by the Environment Agency, who will be responsible for overseeing the measures.
The Government's consultation on the key WEEE proposals will run until October, and the measures will then become law in December with full producer responsibility introduced from 1 July 2007.
