Page 17 Packaging, waste and recycling
Electrical waste
Electrical and electronic appliances make up one of the fastest growing waste streams in the UK.
Since July 2007, the UK's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations allow people to recycle old electrical and electronic appliances at sites across the UK free of charge. To help customers to identify which products are recyclable (or should be considered for repair or reuse), all new electrical and electronic products sold now carry a 'crossed-out wheelie bin' symbol.
As a retailer of electrical products, we have a legal obligation under these regulations. This involves contributing funds to the Distributor Take Back Scheme (DTS), which is investing £10 million in local facilities so customers can locally recycle old electrical and electronic appliances.
As a producer of own-brand electricals, we also fund, based on our market share, the recycling of waste electricals. This is done through a separate compliance scheme.
This year, we have focused on making sure our Partners fully understand what the WEEE legislation means both for the business and our customers. A customer information leaflet, available in all shops, outlines what options are open to our customers, as well as information on where they can recycle old electrical and electronic products.
(Picture of an open dishwasher machine)
(Picture of a Nokia mobile phone)
In 2007/08, John Lewis recycled 5,340 mobile phone handsets and raised £9,660 for charitable causes.
Battery recycling
A new EU Batteries Directive will begin its transposition into UK law in September. The Directive aims to create a framework for collecting and recycling batteries, supported by a labelling scheme to demonstrate to consumers the risks associated with the disposal of batteries. John Lewis will play its part to help achieve the Government target of recycling 25% of all household batteries by 2012.
Encouraging customers
We actively encourage our customers to reuse and recycle more through clear and concise information on how to recycle their packaging. We clearly identify the materials used in our own-label packaging where possible, and we have worked with the Government-funded Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and other retailers to agree on a more consistent approach to labelling.
This voluntary initiative has issued guidelines on replacing the current array of recycling symbols and messages with a single Recycle Now logo, alongside an icon to indicate whether the packaging is:
>'widely recycled' recycled by over 65% of local authorities
>'check locally' recycled by 20-65% of local authorities
>'not currently recycled' recycled by under 20% of local authorities.
In consumer tests, customers found the new labels easy to understand, and we intend to phase in the labelling when new packaging specifications are made. The thresholds will be reviewed annually for accuracy, and it is expected that many packaging components will change categories as facilities improve.
Further information
>
www.wrap.org.uk
Waste and Resources Action Programme
>
www.recycle-more.co.uk and
www.recyclenow.com
Responsible waste management and local recycling services
>
www.valpak.co.uk/dts
WEEE Distributor Take-Back Scheme
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