Archived News Article
Environment Agency publishes updates to Waste Charging Scheme and WEEE Registers
The Environment Agency has recently published updates for Waste (Miscellaneous) Charging Scheme and updated Waste electrical and the electronic equipment (WEEE) public registers.
Waste Charging Scheme
The Environment Agency charging scheme for waste (miscellaneous) 2018. This charging scheme covers:
- Waste electrical and electronic equipment
- Waste batteries and accumulators
- Waste carriers, brokers and dealers
- International waste shipments
- Trans-frontier shipment of radioactive waste and spent fuel
Many FIRA members and FISP certified organisations hold upper tier waste carrier licences to ensure the legal transport of product and installation waste from customer sites. It is important that any waste that is transferred is compliant with Waste Duty of Care legislation and code of practice. If you are uncertain of your obligations under this legislation please contact FIRA International via the contact details at the bottom of this article.
WEEE Registers
The public WEEE registers list electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) producers, approved exporters, approved authorised treatment facilities and producer compliance schemes.
According to the Environment Agency, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is the fastest growing waste stream in the UK. The EU WEEE Directive 2012 regulates the management of electrical and electronic waste. It is applied in the UK by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013. Schedule 2 of the Regulations provides a list of WEEE items.
A key objective of the WEEE Regulations is to reduce the amount of WEEE that goes to landfill sites. This is achieved by placing an extended responsibility on producers and distributors of electrical and electronic equipment. Under the extended responsibility obligations, producers are required to finance the collection, treatment and recovery of WEEE.
The WEEE Regulations place an obligation on distributors to offer to consumers a take-back system where WEEE items can be disposed of free of charge. There are two types of take-back systems, and distributors of EEE items must offer one of these schemes to their customers.
Businesses and other users, such as schools, hospitals and government agencies, of electrical and electronic goods (EEE) must ensure that all separately collected WEEE is treated and recycled. Depending on the circumstances, the cost would be borne by either the business or the producer of such goods.
The Withdrawal Act transposes existing EU legislation into UK Law on 29th March 2019 thus ensuring continuity of regulation. It also creates the ability for the UK government to change the converted EU laws via secondary legislation in our own Houses. It also ends the oversight of the European Court of Justice.
For more information please contact the Technical Services Team at FIRA International scochrane@fira.co.uk