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Re: WEEE & Recycling
As of yesterday, “most” of the big retailers and 450 indpendents have signed up to Valpak for the DTS WEEE scheme. Deadline is March 15th before the cost doubles and there are around 3000 small independents in the UK. Its going well then…………..!
Re: WEEE & Recycling
Just be aware they charge £15 for card payment. If you print out a form to send with a cheque they are a bit naught and show the £15 card charge. Cross it off and ignore it!
When you speak to them, perhaps you can find out how many retailers have actually signed up. I think there are around 3000 independents in the UK, I bet less than 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} have signed up!!
Re: WEEE & Recycling
I know. And i have had half a dozen emails from the DTI with very vague information 😕
You either join (and possibly put your head above the parapet opening up more legislation!) or keep your head down and hope that it takes a couple of years before everyone gets wise! The bigger you are, the more likely you should join up – I think!
I am still a bit undecided, £750 is no small beer, but i hate paying for anything with no obvious tangible benefit.
I dont think the majority of punters will wise up for at least a couple of years, but is it worth the risk? I really dont know.
Re: Do you have to sign up to a WEEE scheme
I think you can still take it to a scrap dealer, but if you dont join the scheme you are obliged to take back ALL WEEE on a like for like basis. The DTI say a team has been assembled to monitor this (jobs for the boys no doubt)!! You can’t be selective on what you take back so every washer, kettle, plug that you sell you must take back (and keep records of) the old one.
If you can manage that then don’t join but i for one can’t store and dispose of that much in a year.Re: WEEE & Recycling
I think the answers are:
1. If you join the scheme (note £750 is for t/o £100k – £1m, its about £200 for under £100k), all it does is allow you to pass the buck. i.e. give the customer the appropriate information such as to take it to their nearest tip, or to call their local council to come and collect it (who then take it to the tip). Some councils do this collection for free, others charge. Here in South Cumbria they charge for refrigeration but everything else is free (for now…..) Once at a council tip, the WEEE will then be collected and taken to one of the larger WEEE disposal sites. There will be no charge if the customer takes it to the tip. He can also phone AN other waste carrier who may or may not charge to collect (have a word with a local scrap dealer?). Basically, it gets you out of any further responsibility of staorage, transportation etc).
2. The main thing if you dont join is that you are then legaly obliged to accept back ALL like for like WEEE for free. i.e. for every washer, kettle, torch, PCB and even switch, catch etc you sell the customer can return to you their old one. You can charge them reasonable transportation costs if you collect it but if they bring it to you there can be no charge. It is then up to you to store and then dispose of them correctly – its your obligation to get the WEEE to an appropriate site, either take them to a scrap dealer (if they accept it FOC because of course there is some value in the old machine) or to one of the designated sites (which could be near, or miles away if you are in a rural situation like me). The only cost is your transport (and probably waste transport licence and maybe a storage licence although the enviroment agency say you can apply for dispensation from a storage licence). You can also get the proceesing site to collect the WEEE but they will obvioussly make a charge for that.
I am going to bite the bullet and pay up before the 15th – It doubles in price after that, allegadly. Valpak asure me that if the scheme goes T–s up and doesnt go ahead (for whatever reason – like no-one signing up!!), then the money will be refunded. Hmmmm. I won’t hold out too much hope on that.
Hope that helps.
TomRe: Hotpoint Aqualtis
You may know that Which? are printing a kind of apology in their next issue about the Aqualtis as they didnt test them with comparable loads (according to Hotpoint!) When the right programme is used they wash fine (ie dont wash big soiled loads on synthetic quick was programmes!)
Re: WEEE & Recycling
I’ve been looking into it and as a retailer this is how i see the WEEE regulations will affect us. It affects everyone who sells WEEE, including service guys who will have to dispose of faulty parts etc. Retailers will have 2 choices. Manufacturers (and re-badgers – expect to see lots of “no-names” disapearing) have different obligations, they have to pay for the recycling of old WEEE
1. Join Valpak for £750 (depends on turnover, covers 3 years and goes up to £1500 after 15th March). This then allows you to direct customers to the local tip, as I do now for free! You wont be able to do that on 1st July unless you are a member. This gets rid of your WEEE obligation to take appliances back in store. Apparently the money collected by Valpak (who are not for profit and are the only company set up by the goverment) will go towards refurbishing tips.
2. Dont join just register that you wont be joining, you are then obliged to take back all WEEE on a like for like basis. It is then up to you to store it and then take the WEEE to a collection site where it will be recycled (funded by the manufacturer)And i also guess…
3. Do nothing and hope for the best until consumers get wise and force you to take back old appliances!!This link from BIFFA is very helpful. http://www.biffa.co.uk/files/docs/Trans … 007_RO.doc
Quote from the above
Every retailer selling electrical goods, no matter how small a part of their business, will be required to register and contribute to a central fund or offer free in-store take back from implementation date on a ‘like for like’ basis. Unlike the Packaging Waste Regulations, Charities are NOT exempt.
The government expects retailers to have responsibility for ensuring that there is an ‘adequate network’ of facilities that allow consumers to be able to dispose of their WEEE free of charge. At the moment, household waste recycling facilities run by local authorities form the backbone of the existing collection infrastructure, but a significant proportion must be upgraded, which raises a need for investment. In addition, the government may require further collection facilities to be provided on retail parks.
The government has contracted out the operation of the Distributor Takeback Scheme to Valpak which will take responsibility for raising the necessary funds from EEE retailers – approximately £10m – and using them to establish an ‘adequate network’ of facilities. It is expected that this will mostly be based around the Civic Amenity site network, but it is possible that the scheme would have to operate additional facilities where local authorities were not prepared to participate.
As an alternative, a retailer will be able to offer in-store take back for all categories of WEEE sold in their shop. They will be entitled (along with distributors) to free disposal if they deposit any items brought back by consumers at a Designated Collection Facility determined by a Producer Compliance Scheme.
WEEE received by stores will be counted as their own waste and will therefore not lead to sites requiring a special licence.
Retailers will also have to provide information to consumers on how to dispose of electrical waste, either through the store if they operate take back or through the compliance scheme.
Distance sellers (e.g. internet distributors) face the same responsibilities as shop-based retailers.
I would suggest everyone visits https://www.valpak.co.uk/dts/ to see what it costs/involves
Re: Do you have to sign up to a WEEE scheme
I’ve been looking into it. It affects everyone who sells WEEE, including service guys who will have to dispose of faulty part etc. Retailers will have 2 choices.
1. Join Valpak for £750 (depends on turnover, covers 3 years and goes up to £1500 after 15th March). This then allows you to direct customers to the local tip, as I do now for free! You wont be able to do that on 1st July unless you are a member. This gets rid of your WEEE obligation to take appliances back in store. Apparently the money collected by Valpak (who are not for profit and are the only company set up by the goverment) will go towards refurbishing tips.
2. Dont join just register that you wont be joining, you are then obliged to take back all WEEE on a like for like basis. It is then up to you to store it and then take the WEEE to a collection site where it will be recycled (funded by the manufacturer)And i also guess…
3. Do nothing and hope for the best until consumers get wise and force you to take back old appliances!!This link from BIFFA is very helpful. http://www.biffa.co.uk/files/docs/Trans … 007_RO.doc
Quote from the above
Every retailer selling electrical goods, no matter how small a part of their business, will be required to register and contribute to a central fund or offer free in-store take back from implementation date on a ‘like for like’ basis. Unlike the Packaging Waste Regulations, Charities are NOT exempt.
The government expects retailers to have responsibility for ensuring that there is an ‘adequate network’ of facilities that allow consumers to be able to dispose of their WEEE free of charge. At the moment, household waste recycling facilities run by local authorities form the backbone of the existing collection infrastructure, but a significant proportion must be upgraded, which raises a need for investment. In addition, the government may require further collection facilities to be provided on retail parks.
The government has contracted out the operation of the Distributor Takeback Scheme to Valpak which will take responsibility for raising the necessary funds from EEE retailers – approximately £10m – and using them to establish an ‘adequate network’ of facilities. It is expected that this will mostly be based around the Civic Amenity site network, but it is possible that the scheme would have to operate additional facilities where local authorities were not prepared to participate.
As an alternative, a retailer will be able to offer in-store take back for all categories of WEEE sold in their shop. They will be entitled (along with distributors) to free disposal if they deposit any items brought back by consumers at a Designated Collection Facility determined by a Producer Compliance Scheme.
WEEE received by stores will be counted as their own waste and will therefore not lead to sites requiring a special licence.
Retailers will also have to provide information to consumers on how to dispose of electrical waste, either through the store if they operate take back or through the compliance scheme.
Distance sellers (e.g. internet distributors) face the same responsibilities as shop-based retailers.
