WEEE day approaches - you have been warned

As WEEE day fast approaches, Repic, the not-for-profit recycling body formed by 60 of the UK's leading electrical goods manufacturers, is warning that companies with producer responsibility could face prosecution if they fail to make adequate preparations. Repic made the warning this week as part of its continuing campaign to build awareness of the impact the WEEE Directive will have on both producers and retailers when it finally becomes law. The compliance scheme believes there may be more than 11,500 companies in the UK with producer responsibility who would be at risk if they fail to register.

Dr Philip Morton, Repic's Chief Executive, commented: 'Over the next few months there are critical milestones that need to be met and a very short time window during which companies can register'.

'It will be a criminal offence to fail to do so and there will be no excuses'.

'It is obviously in everyone's best interest to be aware of their obligations and to register with a compliance scheme to avoid potential prosecution'.

He continued: 'We have had several false dawns regarding implementation dates but there is now a consensus that 1st July 2007 will see the beginning of full producer responsibility'.

'It would be an expensive mistake to think that there is plenty of time to prepare'.

'Companies need to be taking appropriate action now'.

Repic is expected to be the UK's largest provider of WEEE compliance services.

Its information campaign continued to gain momentum this month with a direct mailing to 12,000 named companies and individuals who are likely to be affected by the WEEE Directive.

This followed the first in a series of information inserts to appear in selected trade media last month highlighting the obligations of producers and retailers.

By visiting the REPIC website and answering a series of simple questions, organisations can decide whether they will be classified under the WEEE regulations as a producer, a distributor or both in the UK and can register their details for free.

In addition, from the links page of the Repic website they can directly access around 40 WEEE compliance schemes in other EU member states if they have or think they may have obligations in other EU countries.