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WEEE directive recast text finalised at European level
The text of the recast of the WEEE directive has been finalised at a European level, and is now going through a signing off process.
The final text is expected to be published later in 2012.
The new text will come into force 20 days after the date of publication, with Member States having 18 months to "transpose" the directive into national regulations. That means that we can expect to see new UK WEEE regulations before the end of 2013.
The Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) have indicated that they anticipate a consultation process commencing late in 2012.
Key changes to the WEEE directive
Change to Member States targets
There will be a change to the targets given to Member States on the level of collections of WEEE. Currently there is a target of 4Kg/head of population, which the UK has comfortably exceeded. This has moved to a percentage of the average weight of the three previous years' "put on market" figures. This will start at 45% four years after the directive comes into force, rising to 65% a further three years later.
The targets apply to all WEEE - whether from "household" or "non-household" sources.
Move to an open scope
The scope of the directive remains the same for a further 6 years, but then moves to an "open scope" bringing a wider range of electrical and electronic equipment into scope in 2018. However, incandescent lamps will remain excluded from the directive.
LED lamps
LED lamps, already in scope within the UK and several other countries, will definitely be in scope in all Member States by 2018.
Very small WEEE collections by retailers
Retailers with floor space of 400m2 or more dedicated to the sale of EEE, will be required to collect "Very small WEEE" - defined as up to 25cm in any one dimension. This will therefore include a requirement to separately collect waste CFLs.