Compliance scheme builds one-stop-shop for WEEE

Many manufacturers and importers of electronic and electrical products are still insufficiently prepared for the European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. All manufacturers and importers are to be held responsible for meeting the costs of collecting, treating and recycling WEEE from 1st July 2007. However, many are in danger of not meeting an earlier deadline of 15th March 2007, when they are obliged to sign up to a compliance scheme.

Damian Lambkin, the Managing Director of The Electronic Waste Company which operates the A1 Compliance scheme said: 'The deadline for compliance has slipped again and again, finally to 1st July 2007'.

'However many businesses are unaware of the fact that there is an earlier deadline to meet'.

'They are required to join a compliance scheme by 15th March'.

'We have been in contact with a large number of manufacturers of products covered by the legislation, and while many have precomplied, we are still concerned that others may not meet the deadline'.

The legislation affects products in ten categories that are manufactured or rebranded in the UK.

These include household appliances, IT equipment, lighting, tools, toys, medical devices, monitoring instruments and automatic dispensers.

The cost and specialist knowledge required to comply will force many companies to join 'cluster' compliance schemes.

The A1 Compliance scheme, as well as offering 'paper-only' compliance, will also allow companies to easily arrange the disposal and recycling of applicable waste.

Lambkin continued: 'We know, from discussions with the Environment Agency, that there will be prosecutions of those companies which don't meet the 15th March deadline'.

'Elsewhere in the EU, where these regulations are already in force, companies have been fined for noncompliance'.

'That's a real shot across the bows of manufacturers in this country'.

A1 Compliance is working with a number of national waste companies to create a 'one-stop shop' offering online compliance registration and the subsequent disposal of waste which falls into the 10 WEEE categories.

The A1 Compliance website will include a simple interface for manufacturers and importers to input relevant information that will enable them to access a complete audit trail of their product demonstrating their ability to meet EU obligations.

Lambkin commented: 'The clock is ticking, and only by signing up to a compliance scheme now will companies be assured of meeting the 15th March deadline'.

'But it's also important to join the right scheme and one that will meet manufacturer's needs in the long term and in a cost effective manner'.