NEMA provides WEEE webinar with ENVIRON

NEMA is a trade association in the U.S. representing the interests of electroindustry manufacturers of products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control, and end-use of electricity.  One area that NEMA members are struggling with is how to manage compliance with the EC Directive on Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE).  The complications arise because WEEE compliance requirements are different in each EU Member State.

One of immediate differences is the deadlines for manufacturers and importers to register as the WEEE producer in EU Member States.  Two countries coming up soon are France (30 November 2006) and the UK (15 March 2007).

Another complication is that some Member States have introduced different requirements for producers of business products.   For example, end-users are responsible for all historic WEEE in Germany and France, regardless of whether the business end-user buys a new replacement product.   The producers are only responsible for providing collection and recycling arrangements for the new products which are sold after August 2005 when they become waste.  New business products are generally covered by a two or three year warranty.  Although it is a legal requirement to provide collection and recycling arrangements for business products in these countries, it is unlikely that there will be any waste collected through these arrangements for several years.  

A further complication is that the UK is the only EU Member State which does not allow producers to register and report directly to the environmental agencies!  Instead, all manufacturers and importers in the UK are required to join an approved Producer Compliance Scheme before 15 March 2007.  ENVIRON's Producer Compliance Scheme services offer a number of options, including:
-- Overseas manufacturers (i.e. who do not have a business address in the UK) can register with ENVIRON on behalf of all importers in the UK
-- A registration and reporting service for producers who wish to continue to use their own existing WEEE collection and recycling arrangements, provided they comply with UK WEEE Regulations and Waste Management Legislation.

To help companies to assess the issues and options for compliance for business products,  NEMA has teamed up with ENVIRON to provide a webinar on WEEE take-back for business products in Europe.