MoreThanWaste.com - Agency urges WEEE producers to sign up (30/03/2007)

"If anyone has missed the deadline, our advice is to get yourself into a scheme as soon as possible. With 37 on offer there is plenty of choice and competition, so make sure you sign up with a scheme that's best for you."

Liz Parkes, Head of Waste at the Environment Agency

The Environment Agency has urged WEEE "producers" to continue to sign up for WEEE schemes.

The Agency was addressing companies that produce, rebrand or import electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) to encourage them to signed up with an approved WEEE compliance scheme.

Electrical waste is expanding at three times the rate of general waste across Europe, hence the need for the implementation of the WEEE Directive in the UK. In fact EEE is one of the fastest growing waste streams in Europe

The Agency says that progress so far in implementing the WEEE Regulations has been positive given the challenging timetable. The regulations are an essential tool for reducing the amount old EEE which is disposed of in landfills.

The WEEE regulations place the responsibility for reducing environmental impact on those who profit from making the goods in the first place, i.e the producers.

Producer compliance schemes are designed to help those companies affected by the WEEE Regulations by collecting and recycling products on their behalf.

The Environment Agency says that registration fees, which recover the regulators' costs for apportioning recycling obligations fairly between schemes and regulation, reflect the scale and impact of individual businesses in a fair and proportionate way.

In an effort to raise awareness of the WEEE requirements amongst unregistered producers, the Environment Agency will be targeting companies it considers as potentially needing to join a compliance scheme through advertisements and a telephone campaign. This work will run in parallel with a campaign by the Department for Trade and Industry, who will also be reminding producers of their responsibilities.

Comments

Liz Parkes, Head of Waste at the Environment Agency, said:

"From an initial telephone survey conducted last week, we know that more than 3,000 businesses have signed up so far. This is encouraging news that shows many companies are getting the message about the new WEEE Regulations and what they need to do.

"Signing up late is better than leaving it altogether. Unregistered producers will have committed an offence and if you leave it too late, you risk getting prosecuted

"Signing up late is better than leaving it altogether. Unregistered producers will have committed an offence and if you leave it too late, you risk getting prosecuted."

For the full list of approved compliance schemes and their contact details, along with further information on the WEEE Regulations, contact the Environment Agency on 08708 506 506.


	Agency urges WEEE producers to sign up (30/03/2007) "If anyone has missed the deadline, our advice is to get yourself into a scheme as soon as possible. With 37 on offer there is plenty of choice and competition, so make sure you sign up with a scheme that's best for you." Liz Parkes, Head of Waste at the Environment Agency The Environment Agency has urged WEEE "producers" to continue to sign up for WEEE schemes. The Agency was addressing companies that produce, rebrand or import electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) to encourage them to signed up with an approved WEEE compliance scheme. Electrical waste is expanding at three times the rate of general waste across Europe, hence the need for the implementation of the WEEE Directive in the UK. In fact EEE is one of the fastest growing waste streams in Europe The Agency says that progress so far in implementing the WEEE Regulations has been positive given the challenging timetable. The regulations are an essential tool for reducing the amount old EEE which is disposed of in landfills. The WEEE regulations place the responsibility for reducing environmental impact on those who profit from making the goods in the first place, i.e the producers. Producer compliance schemes are designed to help those companies affected by the WEEE Regulations by collecting and recycling products on their behalf. The Environment Agency says that registration fees, which recover the regulators' costs for apportioning recycling obligations fairly between schemes and regulation, reflect the scale and impact of individual businesses in a fair and proportionate way. In an effort to raise awareness of the WEEE requirements amongst unregistered producers, the Environment Agency will be targeting companies it considers as potentially needing to join a compliance scheme through advertisements and a telephone campaign. This work will run in parallel with a campaign by the Department for Trade and Industry, who will also be reminding producers of their responsibilities. Comments Liz Parkes, Head of Waste at the Environment Agency, said: "From an initial telephone survey conducted last week, we know that more than 3,000 businesses have signed up so far. This is encouraging news that shows many companies are getting the message about the new WEEE Regulations and what they need to do. "Signing up late is better than leaving it altogether. Unregistered producers will have committed an offence and if you leave it too late, you risk getting prosecuted "If anyone has missed the deadline, our advice is to get yourself into a scheme as soon as possible. With 37 on offer there is plenty of choice and competition, so make sure you sign up with a scheme that's best for you. "Signing up late is better than leaving it altogether. Unregistered producers will have committed an offence and if you leave it too late, you risk getting prosecuted." For the full list of approved compliance schemes and their contact details, along with further information on the WEEE Regulations, contact the Environment Agency on 08708 506 506.