euroLED Supplement
Time for change: How the consultation on the WEEE Regulations will affect lighting
As the revision of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations opens up to consultation, Nigel Harvey, Chief Executive of lamp recycling specialist Recolight, outlines how the changes proposed might impact the lighting industry.
In April, the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) launched a consultation to review the current Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations. The Regulations will be modified to reflect the European Unionʼs (EU) recast WEEE Directive, and also to address concerns from UK producers of electrical and electronic equipment about the costs associated with the UKʼs household WEEE system.
category. Recolight supports this, as putting them in the same category makes targets achievable, and prevents gas discharge lamps from becoming an “orphan” waste stream as LED lamps rapidly replace gas discharge lamps.
New system for household WEEE Recolight is also supportive of the Governmentʼs proposals to change the household WEEE system. Currently, companies that control household waste have guaranteed buyers for that waste, which leads to excessive costs for schemes like Recolight.
The Government is considering four options for the household system:
1.Do nothing and allow the regulations to remain as they are.
2.Implement a ʻNational Producer Compliance Schemeʼ, instead of competition between current compliance schemes;
3. Set targets for compliance schemes along with a “compliance fee” alternative if the targets are not met and;
Changes to the WEEE Directive The recast Directive contains much higher targets for WEEE collections - 45% of the average of the three previous years product put on the market by 2016, and then increasing to 65% by 2019. With the annual recycling rate for lamps in 2012 at 39.5%, it would appear that the 45% target by 2016 is achievable. Although the 65% target will be much more challenging, Recolight supports higher collection targets, and is working hard to create and support the necessary infrastructure to make lamp recycling easy for all.
Another important change arising from the recast Directive relates to scope. In 2018 the Regulations will no longer be “closed scope”, and will cover a much wider “open scope”. Many electrical items that are currently exempt will need to comply, particularly household luminaires. This means that manufacturers and importers of household luminaires will need to join a Producer Compliance Scheme, to take responsibility for their waste.
LED and Gas Discharge Lamps in the same category
Contact: Recolight T: +44 (0) 845 601 7749 W:
www.recolight.co.uk
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In the consultation, there is a proposal that LEDs be included in the same WEEE category as gas discharge lamps. In most EU member states, both are already in the same
4. Match collection sites to compliance schemes.
Recolight and the Lighting Industry Association, along with 12 other UK trade associations, (including BEAMA, GAMBICA, the EEF, AMDEA, and Intellect) and Producer-led WEEE schemes, have reviewed the four options, and agree that options 3 and 4 would create a fairer system. Conversely, all those organisations are of the opinion that option 1, to continue with the current system, would be costly and not in the interests of UK Producers. Collectively, the group estimates it represents over 90% of all WEEE producer obligation in the UK. The group will continue to work together to make recommendations to their members on the best approach, until the consultation closes on 21st June 2013. The Government have said they will publish a response within 8 weeks of the consultation closing. If enough support for changes to the existing system is shown, there will be a further consultation on a new set of draft regulations. The final version of the regulations is due to come into force from 1 January 2014, and the government guidance notes to accompany them will be published at least 10 weeks before that date. Recolight, Lumicom and the LIA have been advising their members to respond to the consultation, as the Government is seeking a wide range of views. With significant changes around the corner, it is important that all manufacturers of lighting equipment have their say. Recolight are exhibiting at euroLED on stand LED318.
www.a1lightingmagazine.com
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