REPIC, the not-for-profit recycling body set up by 45 of the UK’s leading electrical goods producers, has welcomed the government’s announcement of a delay to the implementation of the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive until January 2006.
The WEEE Directive will impact on every household in the UK, as it requires producers to provide the means to recycle all redundant, separately collected electrical and electronic appliances, from washing machines, to games consoles, torches and hearing aids. The cost of recycling redundant electrical equipment is the responsibility of the producer or retailer that introduces new products into the UK market. REPIC supports the government’s position to delay the Directive’s implementation, as it will allow all parties, including producers, retailers and local authorities, to agree how to implement the Directive effectively. The Directive had originally been due to come into force in August this year.
Following DTI Minister Mike O’Brien’s announcement today, Dr Philip Morton, REPIC’s Chief Executive, said:
“Commonsense has prevailed. This is an important issue and impacts on every household in the UK, which must contain at least 30 to 40 products that are subject to this Directive. REPIC and the producers we represent fully support the delay to WEEE implementation announced by the minister. There are a number of important issues that still need to be resolved and Mike O’Brien has clearly listened to our concerns. Premature implementation of the Directive would have led to higher costs for consumers and put UK jobs at risk; we now have an opportunity to find solutions that work for everyone.”
Dr Morton went on to call for producers, retailers and local authorities, who are responsible for amenity sites where much waste is left, to sit down together to address the outstanding issues.
REPIC members have called for any recycling fee to be highlighted to consumers at the point of purchase, as it will mitigate against unnecessary price rises to pay for the costs of recycling.
“Manufacturers are committed to keeping recycling costs as low as possible but must be able to pass them on to consumers. At the same time we must ensure that consumers do not pay more for recycling than the costs involved. Consumers must be able to see that they are paying a recycling fee for legitimate WEEE-related costs and know that it is “˜ring-fenced’ entirely for that purpose. If the fee is not visible, there is a danger that it will be “˜marked up’ through the supply chain so that they pay more than necessary.”
REPIC represents producers that will be responsible for 80% of the costs of recycling WEEE goods, including, Indesit Company, Bosch and Siemens, Hoover Candy, Panasonic, Philips, Sony, Electrolux, Kenwood, Hitachi, Sharp and Glen Dimplex.
