Friday was the day for WEEE compliance schemes to show evidence that they have complied with the regulations for July - December 2007. There had been extra time allotted for those who needed an extension but the final date to obtain evidence was Friday, 4 July. Now the environmental agencies must decide if the schemes have complied.
Together, the BERR and the Environment Agency and its Scottish counterpart SEPA have sent out a letter in an attempt to clarify their collective views on the legislation governing the collection of WEEE evidence. While some schemes have complied, there are others who are still too short of the required evidence and others who have too much.
The letter calls the first compliance period “a settling in and learning experience for all those involved”. Then the letter reminds recipients of their obligations and specifications.
BERR, the EA and SEPA highlight three paragraphs of the WEEE legislation contained in schedule 7, part 4. The first, located in paragraph 3, instructs the scheme operator to cooperate with others. Paragraph 6 is a broader overview which indicates that the scheme “is likely to assist meeting the UK’s WEEE obligation”.
Paragraph 4 is considered to be the most critical. This paragraph states: “The operator of the proposed scheme or schemes has viable plans to collect an amount of WEEE that is equivalent to the amount of WEEE for which it will be responsible for financing under these regulations.”
In essence, if the scheme doesn’t plan to produce evidence, it is in breach of the legislation.
For more information: ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee_index.htm, berr.gov.uk, environment-agency.gov.uk or sepa.org.uk
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