Delay for WEEE implimentation
11 Aug 2005 by Evoluted New Media
The government has postponed the implementation of the waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) Directive until June 2006.
The government has postponed the implementation of the waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) Directive until June 2006.
The directive will make the collection and recycling of waste electronic and electrical equipment the responsibility of manufacturers and retailers, and is expected to have a significant impact on the scientific community. Producers will have to finance treatment and recovery, and retailers will be required to offer take-back services.
Department of Trade and Industry Minister, Malcolm Wicks said: “This directive is about dealing effectively with electrical waste which can be damaging to the environment.”
The implementation date was postponed from January 2006 in the light of the preparations needed for the legislation. Mr Wicks added: “It is challenging and has required a lot of planning and preparation but our priority is to get this right.”
Nick Turton of the DTI told Laboratory News: “Even if equipment is made by companies that no longer exist, the existing industry will have to fund that. The prices may be passed onto the consumer.”
Many scientific retailers and producers have been preparing for the changes when they happen. Isabel Moritz of New Brunswick Scientific told Laboratory News: “Our equipment is over 98% recyclable. Even the urethane foam, gas and oils can be separated. We have been collecting old WEEE when customers order new equipment for some time, but there will be a charge to the customer if we collect old equipment and they do not re-order.”
