Regulating WEEE in Wales

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Regulating WEEE in Wales

• Becky FavagerWaste Regulation Policy Advisor

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The amount of WEEE generated in the Community
is growing rapidly. The content of hazardous
components in electrical and electronic equipment
(EEE) is a major concern during the waste
management phase and recycling of WEEE is not
undertaken to a sufficient extent.
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UK Implementation

• the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
  (WEEE) Regulations 2006 - UK SI.2006 No. 3289
• the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
  (Waste Management Licensing) (England and Wales)
  Regulations 2006 SI. 2006 No.3315

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Our role

• approving Producer Compliance Schemes
• registering Producers
• licensing WEEE treatment facilities
• approving Authorised Treatment Facilities and
  exporters
• data management, guidance,monitoring and
  enforcement associated with the above

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Approved Producer Compliance Schemes
All are approved throughout the UK
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Treatment

• separately collected WEEE must be treated

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Treatment and recycling overseas

• the WEEE Directive allows this
• BUT
• exports must comply with TFS requirements
• equivalent standards

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This is what we must discourage...
Source Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
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Licensing and Exemptions

• 3 new exemptions
• All licensed WEEE facilities need to meet
  treatment requirements by 1st July
• Licence Mod before 1st July

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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
• 2,590 (or 500 if issuing evidence for 400t or
  less)
• validation of evidence issued

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Protocols

• its not practical to trace individual items of
  WEEE from a DCF through to recovery
• protocols have been developed to enable loads of
  mixed WEEE, and WEEE derived materials to be
  linked to the various categories of WEEE
• Final report now available at Defras website

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Enforcement

• we will be guided by our enforcement and
  prosecution policy
• our current focus is getting producers into
  Schemes and registered - compliance not
  prosecution is the objective
• producers, distributors, end-users, treatment
  sites, local authorities, and exporters shouldnt
  overlook existing controls that will continue to
  apply
• Duty of Care
• Hazardous Waste Regulations
• Transfrontier Shipment of Waste

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Further information

• Defras Permitting Regulations and Treatment
  guidance are available from its website
• www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/topics/electric
  al/index.htm
• the Dti has lots of up-to-date and in-depth
  information on its website (including the WEEE
  Regulations)
• www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/sustainability/weee/page
  30269.html

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Further information and guidance

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

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Theres a mountain to climb...

• the good news is that were not starting at the
  bottom
• we have over 1,000 CA sites that have been
  handling WEEE, retailers that provide take-back
  on delivery and some that provide in-store
  drop-off points
• there are specialist treatment facilities for
  fridges, TVs and other equipment and we have an
  extensive network of refurbishers
• the WEEE Regulations will increase separate
  collection, improve treatment and recycling, and
  change the way this work is financed