WASTE & RECYCLING
“
T
he seriousness of fulfilling your compliance scheme indicate that as many “Global businesses such as Dell have
obligations under the WEEE as 10,000 smaller UK brand owners and already stolen a march on many of their
regulations cannot be importers of electrical equipment are not competitors by establishing one of the most
underestimated. As a pan- prepared for this new burden on their effective and responsive supply chains in the
European piece of legislation, business, those that are compliant need to retail environment. Granted, its retail
the Waste Electrical and take action against free-riders that could model, based on direct sales and a hugely
Electronic Equipment Directive is a otherwise have a detrimental impact on sophisticated supply chain mechanism,
cornerstone of the EU’s approach to their reputations. gives it a head start when it comes to
environmental responsibility. However, as “We are increasingly advising reverse logistics, but this attitude to the
with any piece of legislation, there will responsible businesses to undertake WEEE Directive shows what can be done. For
inevitably be those in the market who don’t audits to ensure that where relevant, all of some time now, customers buying Dell
think it is of concern to them. their suppliers are registered with an products have been impressed by the
“And while this lack of adherence to the approved compliance scheme. efficient and speedy way that old kit is taken
law may be a result of genuine ignorance, “There are a number of steps that away if required, once new equipment is
the impact of ‘free-riders’ on your business responsible businesses can take to ensure brought.
cannot be underestimated. that their suppliers are adhering to the new “And this ethos goes much further than
“The new legislation demands that legislation. Firstly, all obligated businesses the practical realities of collecting and
obligated WEEE producers should have should have now registered with a disposing of used electrical product. Recent
registered with a compliance scheme by 15 compliance scheme, which will have scare stories about bank account and
March, albeit schemes are still able to provided them with a WEEE number. This address details turning up on computers
register new members, with the obligation reference is similar to a VAT number and dumped in Africa has brought the issue of
to bare the financial responsibility for WEEE should provide a quick and easy way to reverse logistics management to the top of
With the WEEE regulations
now fully enforced since
July, responsible brand
owners and importers of
electrical equipment need to
ensure that their suppliers
are equally committed to
the environment, claims
Paul James, head of WEEE
services at DHL.
BEWARE THE WEEE COWBOYS
taking effect in July. Certainly, the confirm that your suppliers are also playing many agendas. As a producer or brand
Environment Agency and the DTI are initially their part. owner of electrical products, this should be
likely to use a light touch when it comes to “A simple request to your supplier to a major concern to your business. The last
‘bedding down’ the WEEE regulations, but provide WEEE numbers can act as a quick thing reputable electronics brands want to
be warned, there are sharp teeth behind the way of ensuring that your “WEEE supply see are their names mentioned in another
gentle smile of the agencies tasked with the chain” is robust and cannot be open to Watchdog-style exposé on third world
smooth implementation of the legislation. criticism or worse, court action through non- exploitation and data security. “
“Research from DHL, supported by compliance.
figures from the Environment Agency, “Secondly, if you are simply buying
suggests that as few as 30% of businesses equipment, such as IT equipment, for your
affected by the WEEE Regulations actually business, look our for the WEEE number on
met the deadline of 15 March, when all letterheads and other paperwork, which
obligated companies should be registered indicates that your supplier has registered
with a Producer Compliance Scheme. with a scheme to fulfil its environmental
“Clearly, awareness levels of the new obligations.
legislation are very low, especially among “Clearly, ensuring that your suppliers
small and medium sized businesses, with up and partners are at least ‘as compliant’ as
to a quarter of affected companies not even you are is a key consideration for
being aware of the new regime. businesses with brands and reputations to
“While figures from DHL’s WEEE protect.
SUSTAINABLE FM | OCTOBER 2007
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