DTI call for early responses to WEEE consultation

The man responsible for ensuring the WEEE Directive is adopted by the UK has called on those affected by it to respond to the current consultation soon.

The formal end to the consultation is October 17, but the DTI’s director of sustainable development, Tony Pedrotti, yesterday urged stakeholders to respond before this date if possible.

He said the Department was aiming to finalise the new Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations so they could be laid in Parliament in early December.

The new regulations should come into force on January 2, 2007, he confirmed.

Speaking at a conference organised by the Biffa-run compliance organisation Transform, Mr Pedrotti said: "We are looking to lay the regulations in early December, they have to be laid for 21 days before they can come into force and I am aiming to have that happen on January 2. So there is a very very small window to make amendments.

"The earlier we get comments the more chance there is that they will be considered," he added.

Guidance
Although the legislation should be in place by early December, Mr Pedrotti conceded that accompanying guidance could take longer to develop.

"I understand that guidance notes are more important for many of you," he said. "I would love to say that will go out at the same time as the legislation is laid, but we will aim to have them as soon as possible. You will have to wait for us to get it right."

Also at the event in Central London, yesterday, Mr Pedrotti said that publicising the Directive to the general public would not be a priority for the government until 2008. He warned that 2007 was going to be a learning experience that would "not be perfect".

He explained: "Other countries have not been able to handle the influx of WEEE once the legislation comes in and we are already meeting targets. It is important at first that the business side knows what is going on.

"In 2008 we will have a big push, once we are confident we have a system in place," he added.

Original text is here