The remainder of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations SI 2006/3289 came fully into force this month, with the distributor take-back obligations applying from 1 July 2007. There will be an initial compliance period which will run from July to December 2007, which is designed to ease businesses in and make sure they are complying with the new provisions. Producers were required to join a Producer Compliance Scheme (PCS) in order to finance the collection, reprocessing and sound environmental disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment by 15 March 2007. Under the Regulations, from 1 July 2007 producers will be responsible for collecting, through their PCS, any such waste equipment purchased after 13 August 2005. For equipment bought before 13 August 2005, if it is being replaced by similar products, it can be taken away as the new equipment is being delivered. If it is not being replaced, it is up to the business to pay for it to be recycled or sent for disposal.
Despite this "challenging timetable", the Environment Agency have said that most businesses are prepared for the Regulations and have signed up to a compliance scheme. However, some SMEs are yet to register. Head of waste at the Agency, Liz Parkes said, "Our overall priority for 2007 is to ensure those affected by the change in the law are aware of their responsibility under the new Regulations. In the first compliance period we want to help make sure businesses are complying. However, if we find a business has deliberately flouted the rules we will take action."
