# Presentation: 505757

## WEEE:what Producers need to do

**Notes:**
[Run time approx. 15 mins]

This section covers two new pieces of legislation, one already in force and the other on the way, which will reduce the environmental impact of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) 

## UK Implementation

***the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2006**** -  *UK SI.2006 No. 3289
- - cover product marking, take-back and recycling obligations, etc for the UK
***the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Waste Management Licensing) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006*** SI. 2006 No.3315
- -  cover treatment and site licensing in England and Wales
- -  there will be separate provisions for Scotland and Northern Ireland

**Notes:**
This slide covers implementation in England and Wales because that's our jurisdiction. There will be separate regulators for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

However, the WEEE  'Producer Responsibility' regulations will cover the whole of the UK.  

There will be similar but separate licensing regulations in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

## Our role

- we are the regulator for most aspects of the WEEE Regulations in England and Wales:
- approving Producer Compliance Schemes
- registering Producers
- licensing WEEE treatment facilities
- approving Authorised Treatment Facilities and exporters
- guidance, data management, monitoring and enforcement associated with the above

## Who is a ‘Producer’? 

- this legislation is about making ‘Producers’ of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) collectively responsible for those products when they become waste
- Producers are people who:
- import EEE on a professional basis
- make and sell EEE under their own brand
- resell EEE under their brand (only)
- for the WEEE Regulations, it’s the **UK market** that matters

**Notes:**
The WEEE Directive is 'Producer Responsibility' legislation.  That means it places obligations on manufactures and other 'Producers' for their products once they become waste.

This type of legislation moves at least some of the costs of waste management from the taxpayer to the manufacturer, distributor and, indirectly, the consumer. 

Before looking at what Producers will need to do it's worth considering who these producers might be...

## What will Producers need to do? 

- by 15 March 2007, join an approved Producer Compliance Scheme
- by 31 March 2007 apply (through a Scheme) to be a registered Producer
- pay an annual registration charge of:
- £445 - businesses with a turnover over £1m
- £220 - businesses above VAT threshold but less than £1m turnover
- £30 - businesses below the VAT threshold
- from 1 July 2007, pay for a portion of separately collected household WEEE to be treated and recycled

## What else will Producers need to do?

- supply data on the types and quantity (tonnes) of new EEE placed on the market in 2006
- provide information on the dismantling and recycling of new products
- mark all new EEE with a crossed-out ‘wheelie bin’ symbol (from 1 April 2007)
- declare their EEE producer registration number to their distributors
- keep an on-going record of EEE placed on the market

**Notes:**
The data return is likely to be based on 2006.

All producers would be well advised to be marking their products now.  Even though this is not yet a legal requirement in the UK it is in most other EU states (exporters beware!) and is already being demanded by some of the larger retailers.

## Producer Compliance Schemes

**2 - 31 January 2007** - Producer Compliance Schemes apply to the environment agencies for approval
- - assessment of operation plans and Scheme constitutions within 28 days of application
- a list of **27 **prospective Compliance Schemes is available to download from our website.  *There may be others and not everyone on the list may seek approval or be approved*
**28 February 2007** - all Scheme applications will have been approved or rejected
- we will be publishing a list of Approved Schemes

## Household WEEE - overview

**4,000 – 10,000?**

**10 - 30?**

**199 Disposal**
**Authorities**
**1,000 sites?**

**?**
**inc. exporters**

**?**

- Producer

- Producer

- Producer

- Producer

- Producer

- Producer

- Producer

- Producer

- Producer

- Producer

- Producer

**Producer Compliance Scheme**

**Producer Compliance Scheme**

**Producer Compliance Scheme**

**Producer Compliance Scheme**

- DCF

- DCF

- DCF

- DCF

- DCF

- DCF

- DCF

- DCF

- DCF

- DCF

**A/ATF**

**A/ATF**

**A/ATF**

**A/ATF**

**A/ATF**

**A/ATF**

**Reprocessor**

**Reprocessor**

**Reprocessor**

**Reprocessor**

**Reprocessor**

**Reprocessor**

**Reprocessor**

**Reprocessor**

## Who’s responsible for non-household WEEE?

- for waste from equipment purchased before 13 August 2005, the end user is responsible for treatment and recycling, unless they are buying replacement products in which case the producer supplying the new equipment will have these responsibilities
- for equipment put on the market after 13 August 2005, the producer supplying that equipment will have to take responsibility unless both parties negotiate alternative arrangements

## Licensing and Exemptions

- we have issued an Interim Regulatory Position setting out what we expect operators of treatment facilities to do up to 1 July 2007
- this position also allows operators to delay registering the three new WEEE exemptions until 1 April 2007
- the interim position is available from our website
- www.environment-agency.gov.uk/weee
- NOTE: the Interim Regulatory Position is subject  to periodic review

## Approval of ATFs and Exporters

- only _approved_ ATFs and _approved _Exporters are able to issue evidence of WEEE treatment and recycling
- approval is an annual process
- there is a charge to pay: £2,590 (or £500 if issuing evidence for 400t or less)
- the approval process is currently being designed
- the Regulations allow a determination period of up to 12 weeks
- at the end of the compliance period, an approved ATF or exporter must appoint an independent auditor to confirm the validity of the evidence issued

## Further information and guidance

- internet
- www.environment-agency.gov.uk/weee
- 	including FAQs and details of prospective and approved Producer Compliance Schemes
- www.netregs.gov.uk
- telephone us
- 08708 506506
- email us
- enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
- please put “weee” in the subject line

## Final thoughts

**Final thoughts**

## Environmental goals

- The WEEE legislation is about:
- more sustainable use of resources
- higher treatment standards
- diverting more waste from landfill
- more recovery and recycling

**Notes:**
The WEEE Regulations will cost many producers a lot of money. It will require retailers and other distributors to organise take-back. Householders will be asked to make more effort to segregate WEEE from other waste. Inevitably there will be data to collect and forms to fill in.

It would be very easy to get rather negative about the whole businesses.  There's a clear purpose to all of this - it's about protecting the environment.

The WEEE Directive has some very clear environmental goals...

##  Thank You

- January 2007