The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations came in force in the UK on the 2 January 2007. Brand owners, importers and distributors of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) will be affected, attracting an obligation under the UK WEEE regulations. The regulations will also have important implications for Local Authorities (LAs), treatment facilities and reprocessors of WEEE.

Producers of EEE will be required to finance the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of EEE at its end of life.

All producers of EEE, regardless of size, will be required to register with a compliance scheme by the 15 March 2007. Producers will be required to supply compliance schemes with information regarding the amount of EEE, by category, they have put onto the UK market.

Full producer responsibility for WEEE will start on the 1 July 2007, with the exception of hazardous WEEE, which includes computer screens, television sets, refrigerators, freezers and gas discharge lamps.

All successfully approved WEEE producer compliance schemes, such as Valpak, have had to seek such approval from the Environment Agency. Such approval is conditional on the submission of adequate operational plans and meeting all the criteria the Agency believes to be a requirement to become a registered WEEE producer compliance scheme.

Distributors supplying new EEE have to ensure that WEEE from private households can be returned, free of charge, on a one-for-one basis, providing that any such WEEE is of equivalent type to and has fulfilled the same function as the EEE supplied.

Distributors have two options in order to comply with their legal obligations. They can offer free in store take back or join the Distributor Take Back Scheme (DTS).

 To find out more call the Valpak WEEE hotline on 08450 682 572