UK Agency Holding WEEE Workshop

Companies in the United Kingdom that are considering making an application to operate a compliance scheme in order to meet requirements of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive are invited to an Environment Agency workshop Oct. 31, 2006.

The WEEE Directive, to be introduced into the UK this coming January, mandates that producers of new equipment are responsible for financing the treatment and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment products.

In the UK, householders throw away one million metric tons of electrical and electronic waste every year. With business and industry also throwing away at least the same amount, this directive aims to minimize the end-of-life impact of this waste.

The Directive affects any business that manufactures, brands, sell or imports EEE, as well as businesses that store, treat or dismantle WEEE within the EU. It will also affect businesses that have WEEE to dispose of and the general public who will have more opportunities to reuse, recycle and recover these products.

The workshop being held in Birmingham is also open to companies who are planning to meet their own obligations via a 'closed scheme'. The event will cover issues relating to scheme approval including legislative requirements; application procedure and requirements, including operational plan and constitutional obligations (for example data reporting, collection recycling and providing evidence)

Bob Mead, Environment Agency's WEEE Implementation Project Manager said: "This workshop will provide prospective operators of compliance schemes an understanding of what is required in both the application process and running of a compliance scheme.

"We want to ensure applicants fully understand their responsibilities so they are able to apply as early as possible, providing the correct information for approval in the most cost-effective way for them."

For further information and to obtain tickets to the event, please contact the Environment Agency on 08708 506 506, email lisa.warwick@environment-agency.gov.uk  or visit the Environment Agency website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk.