Despite the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
(WEEE) regulations having been in effect for over 12 months,
many small businesses are not properly adhering to them. The
regulations introduced new laws regarding the disposal of unwanted
electrical equipment on 1st July 2007.
Issued by the UK Department of Trade and Industry, the regulations
mean that any business which manufactures, supplies or even uses
electrical and electronic equipment is responsible for the cost
of collection, treatment and recycling of any waste generated.
The EEF, a manufacturing employers’ group believe that
small businesses are not adhering to the regulations. Rather
than disregarding the WEEE legislation out of deliberate non-compliance
however, the EEF believes small businesses are not aware of their
duties.
Local businesses should have learned where their local recycling
centres are and generally implemented a greener practice. The
regulations are complicated by the supply chain procedure. In
the retail sector, for example, retailers must allow consumers
to return their waste goods free of charge and manufacturers
will be financially responsible for the treatment and recycling
of their products. End-users will carry responsibility for ensuring
their old waste is collected and disposed of correctly either
by disposal at a local recycling centre or utilising the retailer
take back scheme.
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