Nearly half of the UK’s local authorities may change the WEEE Producer Compliance Scheme they work with in the next six to 12 months - despite the fact that more than two thirds of councils report increases in the amount of electrical and electronic waste arriving at their collection sites since the directive was implemented in July 2007. These are among the findings of a new survey of electronics producers and local authorities, conducted on behalf of the compliance scheme ERP – the European Recycling Platform – for the Recycling and Waste Forum 2008.
The survey shows that 54 per cent of local authorities believe the volume of WEEE arriving at their sites has risen a small amount since the directive, and 14 per cent believe it has risen significantly. Against this, 20 per cent say the volume has not changed, and 9 per cent say it has fallen slightly.
Looking forward, 44 per cent expect to see further small rises over the next six to 12 months, with 18 per cent anticipating further significant rises. Producers concur: 8 per cent of producers and compliance schemes anticipate significant rises in WEEE volumes over the coming months, and 61 per cent expect small rises.
Despite this encouraging start, only 15 per cent of local authorities say they will definitely not change the Producer Compliance Scheme they work with in the next few months. While over one third - 38 per cent - say they are unlikely to change, 32 per cent say they will review, but not necessarily change their partner, and 3 per cent will definitely change. With 12 per cent saying they do not yet know if they will change schemes or not, the implication is that up to 47 per cent of local authority/compliance scheme relationships are vulnerable to some extent.
General Manager of ERP UK Scott Butler comments: “The WEEE Directive is a complex piece of legislation, which is trying to bring about a significant change in the industry and in society. While it’s very gratifying to see that the directive is clearly working, it had a difficult birth in many aspects, and it’s understandable that some local authorities should want to review their arrangements.”
He concludes: “There’s more to be done, but it’s very gratifying that we’ve gone from a standing start to a fully functioning WEEE regime in just a few months. I believe that producers and local authorities alike should be extremely proud of what’s been achieved’.
Contact
ERP UK
Tel: +44 (0) 7976 208268
