The cleaning industry, like others is preparing to brace itself for forthcoming changes regarding electrical waste.
Producers of electrical goods will, from July 2007, be required to meet the environmental costs of dealing with waste products according to new rules published in December.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations domestic has been designed to deal with the growing problem of waste such as toasters and fridges being dumped in landfill sites. The new regulations mean that there is an onus on users to dispose of them properly.
Judith West, Chairman of the British Cleaning Council said: "This will have an huge impact on manufacturers and distributors within our industry. Some producers will now have to consider the cost of recycling their product at the design stage. However, like other industry we have an obligation to safeguard the future of the environment".
According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) all companies who import, manufacture and re-brand electrical and electronic equipment will have to finance its treatment, recovery and environmentally safe disposal. This will become the responsibility of those who produce the goods.
The following information has been supplied by the DTI:
By 15 March 2007 producers will need to join an approved producer compliance scheme to ensure that they are able to comply with the Directive from 1 July 2007. The regulations will:
- Enable consumers to dispose of their electrical waste free of charge at accessible and appropriate places. Consumers will start to see changes from July 2007, with new signage at their local council refuse centres, in shops, and on new electrical products.
- Give distributors the choice of how to meet their obligations under the Directive by either joining the Distributor Take-back Scheme (DTS) or by offering customers in-store take-back.
- Allow existing relationships currently managing electrical waste to continue.
- Enable any operator of a designated collection facility (DCF) to arrange with a producer compliance scheme (PCS) to have the electrical waste deposited at their site taken away for treatment and recycling by that PCS, free of charge.
- Allow for and encourage the re-use of equipment after it has been discarded where possible.
- Allows for the continued collection of old equipment at the same time of delivering new goods by retailers and some producers.
For more information on Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Regulations see: www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/sustainability/weee/page30269.html
