BUSINESS HELPDESK
by Daisy Malyon (The Wastepack Group) and Brett Amphlett (BMF) HELP DESK
TIME TO TAKE ACTION ON WASTE
NATIONAL AND LOCAL authorities are conducting inspections and enforcement checks under the WEEE Regulations to check businesses are complying with legal duties to take-back electrical and electronic equipment. Undercover mystery shopping is part of this enforcement, so what action should you take? BMF service member, the Wastepack Group joins us to outline your obligations and offer solutions.
Obligations
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 (as amended) legislates for reducing the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) incinerated or sent to landfill. The aim is to encourage the recovery, reuse and recycling of products and components - and compliance schemes are a logical option for many merchants. Producers that manufacture, import or rebrand electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) are obliged to pick up the recovery, treatment and recycling costs for goods they place on the UK market.
The obligation covers companies that:
• manufacture and sell EEE under their own brand in the United Kingdom.
• buy EEE and then make changes to rebrand the product and resell on the UK market.
• are established outside of the UK and supply EEE directly into the UK market by distance selling - e.g. online, mail order or by phone • distributors & merchants who make EEE available on the UK market including distance selling. In addition, a producer may also be obliged to take back WEEE under other circumstances. These requirements differ depending on a producer’s registration. For example: business-to-business
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(B2B) or business-to-consumer (B2C). If goods are specifically made or designed for commercial or industrial use, it is classed as B2B. If not, it is classed as B2C regardless of application.
What you need to do B2B Producers For pre-2005 WEEE, a B2B producer is obligated to finance the cost of collection, etc, of old goods - those not displaying ‘the crossed out wheeled bin symbol’ - only when the producer is supplying new electrical & electronic equipment intended to replace the old goods and is of an equivalent type or fulfils the same function.
For post-2005 WEEE, a B2B producer is obligated to finance the cost of collection, etc, of new WEEE - that does display ‘the crossed out wheeled bin symbol’ - where the producer has placed those goods on the market after 13 August 2005.
It is important to ensure that appropriately licensed and permitted recycling hauliers and contractors carry out collections on your behalf.
B2C Producers For B2C producers, the
requirements differ depending on several factors - including whether a producer supplies to an end-user (or household); has a UK store presence: and the square footage of your premises. Until recently, there has been an option for many B2C producers to join the distributor take-back scheme (DTS) which discharged their obligations. But this option is no longer available and alternative solutions are necessary for you to meet your obligations.
This flow chart shows you how to identify your B2C obligations. 1:1 = taking back an electrical item when a customer purchases
It is important to ensure that appropriately licaensed and
permitted recycling hauliers and
contractors carry out collections on your behalf.”
a new and similar product (e.g. returns a drill when buying a drill). 1:0 = taking back an electrical item from a customer without a new and similar product purchased.
N.B. retailers are only required to accept electrical products which are similar to those they sell and not necessarily all equipment.
In-branch collection Setting up in-branch arrangements for the first time can be daunting but Wastepack runs its own approved scheme called Electrolink. It offers a comprehensive take-back system - from free posters to display in-branch to fixed cost on-site storage, collection & treatment of the WEEE.
Electrolink can provide you with centralised storage units to hold the goods you take back - along with the reassurance of reliable, environmentally responsible collection, transport and recycling of goods that are no longer needed. Collection boxes come in different sizes and Electrolink is happy to discuss your needs accordingly.
Conclusion
Environmental legislation affecting BMF members is not going to go away - and with the passing of the landmark Environment Act - more new rules & regs are coming your way. From April 2022, the new £200 per tonne Plastic Packaging Tax comes into force. Whitehall is also reforming packaging waste regulations to end Packaging Recovery Notes and introduce Extended Producer Responsibility from 2023. BMJ
Electrolink, a Wastepack Group WEEE compliance scheme, offers the most straightforward solution for merchants and distributors to meet obligations. Contact them on (01279) 620000 or compliance@wastepack.
co.uk for assistance. Find out more at: www.
wastepackgroup.co.uk
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net December 2021
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