BOROUGH OF POOLE

ENVIRONMENT OVERVIEW GROUP

5th April 2007

THE WASTE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT DIRECTIVE 2007

1.Purpose and Policy Context

1.1To propose and outline an action plan to ensure BOP compliance with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment European Directive (WEEE Directive). The purpose of the directive being to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment , increasing re-use and recycling and reducing the amount of WEEE going to landfill.

2.Decision Required

2.1That members note and support the proposed Action Plan for the implementation of the new legislation as follows:-

2.2The Borough of Poole as Waste Disposal Authority and operator of the Civic Amenity Site (Nuffield Household Waste Recycling Centre) register as a Designated Collection Facility (DCF) for the handling of WEEE goods with DEFRA

2.3The Borough Of Poole enter into Service Contract with an accredited Producer Compliance Scheme (PCS) who will assume the responsibility for the transportation, recycling and disposal of WEEE items.

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3.Background

3.1The European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive was agreed on the 13th Feb 2003 and was intended to be transposed into Member state legislation by the 13th August 2004 coming into force by the 13th August 2005.

3.2After twice being delayed the regulations implementing the WEEE Directive were laid before Parliament on 12 December 2006 and came into force on 2nd January 2007. Full responsibility for both producers and distributors begin on 1st July 2007

3.3As of 1st April 2007 all producers of WEEE must start marking their products as WEEE in order that purchasers are aware of the obligations of the producer to take back or provide a suitable disposal routes for their products.

3.4The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is now responsible for ensuring the permitting of Designated Collection Facilities (DCF) for the WEEE Directive. In order to accomplish this DEFRA have contracted the services of VALPAK Retail WEEE Services Ltd to act as operator of the Distributor Take Back Scheme (DTS)

3.5The Environment Agency have been awarded the responsibility of enforcing the WEEE Directive in England and Wales.

3.6The WEEE Regulations apply to electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) which falls within the 10 product categories listed in the WEEE Directive:

  • Large household appliances e.g. cookers, washing machines
  • Small household appliances e.g. toasters, hair dryers
  • IT & Telecommunications equipment
  • Consumer equipment
  • Lighting equipment
  • Electrical and electronic tools
  • Toys, leisure and sports equipment
  • Medical devices
  • Monitoring, e.g. video cameras
  • Automatic dispensers

These ten categories will in the UK be collected under five streams from authorised DCF’s :

ALarge household appliances other than cooling appliances (washing machines, dish washers)

BCooling appliances containing refrigerators (fridges & freezers)

CDisplay equipment (TV’s & monitors)

DGas discharge lamps (fluorescent tubes)

EAll other WEEE (electric tooth brushes, irons etc)

3.7Local Authorities have the option to elect to register as a DCF for one, more or all of the streams providing their Civic Amenity Site is both licensed and capable of accommodating the waste .

3.8VALPAK as DTS will be responsible for appointing suitably qualified Producer Collection Scheme (PCS) operators who will be allocated Local Authority Registered Civic Amenity Site Designated Collection Facilities (DCF) in order to handle WEEE.

3.9The PCS , will fund and facilitate the removal of WEEE waste from the DCF to the place of treatment. Thus relieving Local Authorities of their current disposal costs for such items.

4.Implications on Waste Arisings

4.1It is estimated that registration as a DCF will not in any way increase the level of WEEE items handled at the Nuffield Household Waste Recycling Centre. Large stores are obliged to offer a take back on site option and as such are likely to operate directly with a PCS operator in such circumstances.

5.Financial Implications

5.1Upon registration as a DCF, VALPAK will make a one off payment to the authority of £6,000 to assist in facilitating any necessary change to existing working practices and or the Civic Amenity Site needed to meet DCF site requirements.

5.2As a registered DCF the authority will be able to pass on to the PCS any and all costs for the transportation and treatment of all WEEE goods for which it is registered, resulting in a considerable waste disposal cost saving for the authority circa £80,000 per annum.

5.3PCS’s will ensure all responsible authorities are able to claim the relevant recycling credit for the WEEE that it has handled by providing a suitable waste audit trail.

5.4The cost of providing suitable containers for the storage of WEEE items and their transportation will be met by the PCS in the case of registered sites , not so those authorities who do not register.

5.5Should the Borough of Poole move to register its Civic Amenity Site as a DCF it is not foreseen that there will be any implications on existing contracts as all are covered with a clause for a substantial change in Law which WEEE constitutes.

.5.6The savings described are already incorporated in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2007 – 2010 approved by Council on the 15th February 2007.

Shaun Robson

Head of Environmental & Consumer Protection Services

Tel: 01202 261701

Contact: Ian Poultney 261761

Glossary of Terms

WEEEWaste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

DCFDesignated Collection Facility (mainly registered civic amenity sites and some privately operated sites)

PCSProducer Collection Schemes ( authorised recycling / waste companies contracted to handle WEEE on the behalf of producers)

DTSDistributor Take back Scheme (appointed agent to allocate PCS’s to DCF’s and to administer the WEEE take back scheme on behalf of DEFRA.

VALPAKLimited Company appointed by DEFRA as DTS

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