Reconfiguring the UK's Electronic Waste Targets

There is no real correlation between the amount of EEE sold, and the amount of WEEE collected. To assume consumers buy and recycle EEE on a like-for-like basis is not a sustainable measure

Since the operational implementation of the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive in the UK in July 2007, there have been a number of significant amendments and improvements to refine the system for recycling electronic waste.

As with anything new, it was naturally going to take time to perfect and, while the UK has tried to learn from its European counterparts, there are still further developments to be made to the system. At present, the industry is awaiting the outcome of the recast WEEE Directive, which is now expected in Q1 of 2011, and will provide clarification on producer responsibility as well as an increased collection target for WEEE.

Both points, as well as how Europe tackles the low collection rates, were discussed at great length at the International WEEE Forum held in Zurich towards the end of 2010.

Collection targets

It’s the latter point that is still currently the ‘hot potato’ in the industry. Everyone in the Producer Compliance Scheme (PCS) community is debating whether the proposal of achieving a percentage collection target of WEEE, simply based on the amount of new EEE placed on the market in one year, is viable.This method of calculation could be argued to be flawed, as there is simply no correlation between the amount of EEE sold in the UK and the amount of WEEE collected for treatment. Think about your own household’s purchasing and recycling habits.

The main family television is in-need of updating so you can enjoy a better viewing experience, so you choose to upgrade to a HD ready or even 3D spec TV. But, what do you do with the old one? It’s still in good working order, so at a guess most of us would simply move this up to a bedroom or hand it down to a member of the family rather than recycling it.

There’s simply no way of accurately predicting what happens to old EEE, but just to assume we buy and recycle like-for-like every year is not a sustainable measurement.

This was also the view shared at the International WEEE Forum, where the proposed European target was discussed in great depth, namely the practicality of achieving the 65% collection target based on EEE sold by 2016. Based on current collection rates across Europe, there was a concern among all stakeholders that this is still too high, and that a percentage target based on EEE put on the market may be too blunt a tool.

As an alternative, there was widespread and growing support at the WEEE Forum for a target which is based on WEEE generated by a Member State, especially one that is based on retrospective years. Using actual data from prior years would provide each Member State with a known target of tonnage at the beginning of each year, rather like the system we have in place in the UK for batteries and packaging. By doing this, everyone would know at the outset what had to be achieved. It would also reflect the different stages of economic development in each Member State by taking account of what had been achieved in prior years and building on that.

Responsibility for meeting targets was also discussed, with attendees generally in agreement that it is important for this target to remain a Member State target. Producers, or their appointed schemes, remain committed to accept all WEEE handed over to them, but they have no jurisdiction or influence over other players in the market that choose to collect and treat WEEE; that is a Member State responsibility.

Low collection rates across Europe?

While the traditional route for WEEE recycling has been via local authority collection sites, retailers are playing an increasingly prominent role. This is because as the popularity for returning old EEE through retail outlets, or collection through the retailer’s home delivery service, is not only the most eco-friendly and economic option, but also the most convenient.

The risk of illegal exporting of WEEE increases significantly with the number of operators involved in the recycling chain

Although the rise in the amount of WEEE being recycled is encouraging, the forum also served to highlight the concern among the sector over the relatively low collection rate of WEEE across Europe, and it was recognised that it is actually due to low counting rates, rather than low collection rates.

The current review of the system is therefore expected to introduce both voluntary and mandatory standards for treatment facilities to help boost the recycling rate and include, for counting purposes, the WEEE handled by everyone, not just PCSs.

Closing the gap and producer responsibility

Part of reversing the low collection rates would involve making recycling routes more secure, because tightening the system will ensure that less WEEE flows out of it. It is encouraging to see a greater awareness of the need for a short, visible audit trail in order to reduce leakage.

We know that the risk of ‘leakage’ and the illegal exporting of WEEE can be increased where several parties (intermediaries) are involved in the recycling chain. However, this risk is significantly reduced where there is a direct relationship between those collecting WEEE and a PCS that directly finances the WEEE for its members.

The recast is working to directly address these issues by implementing an increased target for WEEE collection, raising recycling and reuse rates, and clearly defining what can be classed as WEEE across all member states. Ultimately, the recast is expected to make it far easier to see where WEEE comes from, where it goes to and who pays for it. Clarification of producer responsibility is something that the PCS community is anticipating in the recast and was also a significant topic raised at this year’s forum. The view was that producer organisations are only one of many players that collect and treat WEEE.

Therefore, if we are to count more WEEE in the system, it makes sense that all players handling WEEE need to operate in the same way and to the same standards. Counting what is treated by others doesn’t require any disturbance to existing economic operators’ models; as long as WEEE is handled properly, it should count.

Conclusion

While there are still many challenges within the current system, the discussions at the forum demonstrated how far the industry has already evolved in the short time since the introduction of the directive. By continuing to work together and share best practice, the industry can be confident of finding a more sensible way of calculating the WEEE collection target. This will help make the necessary tweaks to the UK system to ensure it matches the best in Europe.

Dr Philip Morton is a member of the International WEEE Forum and is CEO of REPIC, a not-for-profit company established in January 2004 by companies in AMDEA, SEAMA and Intellect - three of the main trade associations in the electrical and electronics industry.
e-mail: info@repic.co.uk