Mandatory recycling for electronics delayed in Britain

The EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive calls for mandatory recycling of all electrical and electronic goods from computers to toaster ovens to flashlights. It was originally supposed to come into force in August 2005, but REPIC, a consortium and electrical and electronics goods manufacturers, urged the government to give them more time.

• REPIC, the not-for-profit recycling body set up by 45 of the UK's leading electrical goods producers, has welcomed the government's announcement of a delay to the implementation of the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive until January 2006.
• The WEEE Directive will impact on every household in the UK, as it requires producers to provide the means to recycle all redundant, separately collected electrical and electronic appliances, from washing machines, to games consoles, torches and hearing aids.
• The cost of recycling redundant electrical equipment is the responsibility of the producer or retailer that introduces new products into the UK market.
• REPIC supports the government's position to delay the Directive's implementation, as it will allow all parties, including producers, retailers and local authorities, to agree how to implement the Directive effectively.
• REPIC and the producers we represent fully support the delay to WEEE implementation announced by the minister.
• There are a number of important issues that still need to be resolved and Mike O'Brien has clearly listened to our concerns.
• Dr Morton went on to call for producers, retailers and local authorities, who are responsible for amenity sites where much waste is left, to sit down together to address the outstanding issues.
• REPIC members have called for any recycling fee to be highlighted to consumers at the point of purchase, as it will mitigate against unnecessary price rises to pay for the costs of recycling.
• Consumers must be able to see that they are paying a recycling fee for legitimate WEEE-related costs and know that it is 'ring-fenced' entirely for that purpose.
• REPIC represents producers that will be responsible for 80% of the costs of recycling WEEE goods, including, Indesit Company, Bosch and Siemens, Hoover Candy, Panasonic, Philips, Sony, Electrolux, Kenwood, Hitachi, Sharp and Glen Dimplex.