"Since the UK adopted the WEEE directive a great deal has been achieved, by making sure more waste is collected for treatment and recovery. The establishment of the advisory body will ensure we receive expert advice and to help us build on this initial success"
Malcolm Wicks, Minister for Energy[
London: The UK Government has announced the appointment of the Chair, Peter Calliafas, and 12 members of a new WEEE Advisory Body (WAB), a public body established to provide advice to Government on the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) Directive and the UK WEEE Regulations.
The new WAB members bring with them a wealth of experience and expertise in their respective fields, according to the Department of Enterprise, Business and Regulatory Reform (DEBRR).
The WEEE Directive has significant effects on producers, distributors and users of electrical equipment, as well as the waste management sector. The WEEE Advisory Body's advice is expected to provide an important contribution to the development of policy in relation to these issues.
DEBRR has appointed members on an independent basis to represent particular areas of expertise and experience relevant to the WEEE Regulations. Although the position as Chair of the WAB has an honorarium of £5,000 per annum, the other appointments are unpaid apart from travelling and subsistence expenses.
Chair of WAB
DEBRR says that Peter Calliafas' experience spans the environmental, technology and banking sectors. He is currently the Non Executive Chairman of Envirobusiness South East Ltd and was appointed at the time of its formation in 2005. Until recently, he was also an executive director of Tetronics Ltd, an established plasma arc technology company based near Swindon.
Mr Calliafas has chaired Defra's New Technologies Advisory Committee and remains a member of this committee. He is a member of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management and of their audit committee.
Prior to entering the industry in 2004, he was a career banker with Barclays Bank PLC. In 2001, the growth potential of the environmental sector was identified by the bank and Mr Calliafas was asked to lead on the development of the market proposition. He was subsequently appointed Head of their Environmental Services Team, a team that specialised in looking after the financial needs of companies operating in the waste and renewable energy sectors.
Whilst at Barclays, he was one of the banking representatives on the DTI Renewable Advisory Board - Finance and Working Group. He has also presented evidence to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee on whether the UK would meet its 2010 renewable energy target.
New WAB Chairman Peter Calliafas said:
"I feel immensely honoured and excited to have been appointed to this advisory body as its Chair. There are likely to be both opportunities and challenges in our journey ahead. As such, I am looking forward to meeting my fellow colleagues in the very near future and to building an effective and action orientated team that is focused on the priority objectives.
"Of equal importance to me personally, is to gain an early understanding of the successes and the relevant issues in the WEEE sector. In my view, there is only one way to achieve this and that is through engagement with all stakeholders and visits to key sites in order to appreciate the operational processes first hand"
Minister for Energy
Malcolm Wicks, Minister for Energy said:
"More and more electrical goods are being thrown out each year, with around two million tonnes in the UK alone. The Government is committed to ensure that more of this waste is recycled, and not just consigned to the scrap heap.
"Since the UK adopted the WEEE directive a great deal has been achieved, by making sure more waste is collected for treatment and recovery. The establishment of the advisory body will ensure we receive expert advice and to help us build on this initial success. And I very much look forward to working with them in the future."
Further information
In addition to the Chair, membership of the Board is as follows:-
Julie-Ann Adams - Joint Managing Director, M Baker Recycling Ltd
Joy Boyce - Head of Corporate Environmental Affairs, Fujitsu Services
Phil Conran - General Manager Recycling Development, BIFFA Waste Services
Jonathan Gorman - Regulatory Policy Manager, Tesco Stores
Gary Griffiths - Environmental & Quality Systems Manager, RDC
John Holbrow - non-executive Chairman, Pollution Monitors Ltd
Leigh Holloway - Environmental Consultant, eco3
Terry Maguire - Chairman & Managing Director, Computer Remarketing Services
Kirstie McIntyre - Environmental Takeback Compliance Manager, Hewlett Packard
John Morrell - Environmental consultant, Oakdene Hollins
Philip Morton - Chief Executive Officer, REPIC
Mark Shelton - Waste Promotions Manager, Donarbon Waste Management