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In late December 2023, the UK Government launched the long-awaited review of the regulatory framework for the producer responsibility system for electrical and electronic equipment waste. Read the press release here.

This review was announced back in the 2018 Resources and Waste Strategy and represents another important Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme reform for the retail industry, alongside side the packaging one.

Any businesses selling electrical and electronic equipment in stores or online should be aware of the potential scale of implications should the new requirements be implemented in the coming 18 months. As the leading trade association for the retail industry, BRC is available to assist UK retailers and help them navigate this changing regulatory landscape.

This reform is UK-wide, encompassing all four UK nations. The new proposals and improvements are articulated in a 10-week public consultation and call for evidence, open until 7 March 2024.

The consultation seeks views on reforms to the 2013 Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations to drive up levels of separately collected WEEE for re-use and recycling and support the drive towards circular economy through better lower environmental impact design.

The following policy proposals are outlined by the government and open for consultation:

  • Proposal to increase collections of WEEE from households
  • Proposal to increase distributor collections infrastructure
  • Proposal for new producer obligations for online marketplaces and fulfilment houses
  • Proposal dealing with the environmental impacts of vaping products
  • Proposal for a system governance – with creation of a WEEE scheme administrator and performance indicators

 

An initial Impact Assessment of the proposals is available here.

The call for evidence sets out wider areas for reform for the industry to consider, including potential future measures to increase collections of business WEEE, WEEE prevention and re-use, better design and new business models. At the moment, Government is seeking further evidence on these specific aspects to inform further policy thinking, ahead of consulting on formal UK-wide proposals supported by a full assessment of costs and benefits (at a later stage).

In terms of timelines, Government indicated that not all the reforms will be made at the same time. Industry should expect at phased-in approach to the implementation of the above-mentioned proposals, starting potentially as early as next year (2025) for the proposal for online marketplaces, the proposal for free collection on large domestic appliances by retailers on delivery of a new item, and the proposal to introduce a new EEE category for vapes. The start of the rollout of the household collection system is anticipated from 2026. Policy proposals arising from the call for evidence will be phased in over a longer timeframe.

The BRC is responding to the consultation and call for evidence, and members are invited to attend our dedicated sessions to help us shape the industry submission.

If you have any questions or wish to connect with the BRC on the issue, please contact Nadiya.catel-arutyunova@brc.org.uk

Reacting to DEFRA's WEEE consultation on the takeback of electrical goods, Andrew Opie, Director of Food and Sustainability at the BRC, said:

‘Retailers support measures to improve electrical recycling but the Government shouldn’t pretend this comes at no cost to consumers. Removing the option to charge legitimate costs to take back and efficiently recycle large electricals will put more pressure on prices and inflation which will be paid for by consumers.’