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More help and guidance needed on WEEE regulations
Too many smaller businesses are unaware of their duties under the Waste, Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations, a leading business organisation has claimed.
The EEF, the manufacturing employers’ group, said that a number of firms are still struggling to understand the requirements, despite the fact that the rules have been in operation for a year.
The regulations mean that producers of electrical and electronic equipment are financially responsible for the recovery and recycling of the equipment at the end of its life.
However, the EEF argued that, in the absence of proper guidance, firms have been left open to penalties because they do not properly understand their obligations.
One problem, the EEF said, is the definition of where ultimate responsibility lies, an issue compounded by supply chains that are often complex. This has caused problems for small and medium size companies who often think they are exempt.
Another concern, the EEF added, is the absence of any risk-based principle which means the obligations are disproportionate to the impact of the equipment on the environment.
Gareth Stace, head of environment at the EEF, said: “The requirements of the Directive are a maze for many companies who are unaware that they are covered and risk being fined. One year on there is still a need to provide more help and guidance for companies in understanding what their obligations are.”
The EEF wants the government to apply its principle of simplification and better regulation when the Directive is reviewed by the European Commission later this year.
The employers’ body said it believes the review should be used to cut the administrative costs and bureaucratic burdens imposed by the Directive, while at the same time clarifying firms’ legal obligations.
The EEF also warned against introducing yet more environmental and administrative requirements without considering the competitiveness of electrical and electronic manufacturers that operate in global markets.
Date:1 July 2008
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