Together WEEE stand

Over 100,000 electrical items a year will be re-used thanks to an alliance formed by Dixons Stores Group (DSGi) with DHL and the Furniture Re-use Network (FRN). The Waste Paper speaks to FRN's Craig Anderson about the origins of the alliance, the benefits it provides to the community, the problems it has faced so far and plans for future development  

In much the same way that empty bottles are returned to the milkman when fresh milk is delivered, used electronics can be taken back by retailers when they deliver new items, as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive encouraged in July.

In response to this, a major new alliance has just formed between the UK's largest electrical retailer, Dixons Stores Group (DSGi), the world's largest logistics company, DHL, and the UK-wide co-ordinating body for furniture, appliance and IT re-use organisations, Furniture Re-use Network (FRN). The operation was rolled out in early November 2007 and has already prevented thousands of waste electronic and electrical goods - such as fridges and freezers, washing machines, cookers and televisions - going to landfill.           

Consumers who purchase electrical goods from DSGi will now be asked by delivery staff whether the product they are replacing is still functional, and if so they will be informed that it will be used by the local FRN organisation for social benefit.          

The scheme works by pairing each of DSGi's 14 regional distribution centres across the UK with an Approved Re-use Centre (ARC) through FRN Enterprises (FRN's trading subsidiary). Any items not fit for re-use will be sorted by distribution site staff and sent for recycling. The ARCs will then collect re-useable WEEE from the DSGi's Home Delivery Sites. These items will then be supplied to individuals who cannot afford to purchase new items.

Craig Anderson of FRN Enterprises explained: "We estimate that this partnership will generate at least 100,000 quality-assured appliances a year for our members to distribute to the UK's excluded consumers. As the FRN membership is supplying to people who cannot afford to purchase new items, re-use through our sector avoids any competition with new sales."           

Some ARCs are already taking more than 200 items a week, which is an encouraging sign so early on in the scheme. It is likely this is due to their location, with centres in more affluent or densely populated areas receiving more and often better quality products. However, as the project is still in its early days, Anderson estimates that other ARCs currently taking on average 70-80 items weekly could move to as many as 125-130 per week once established.

There are also plans for the 14 sites to supply goods to other community groups within the re-use sector when the ARCs are more established. This is good news for FRN members, which initially saw a drop in donations following the WEEE Directive, as take-back schemes run by retailers diverted many of the contributions they previously received.

Anderson elaborates: "The problem we've got with implementation of the WEEE directive is we didn't anticipate so many compliance schemes being out there, and it's very difficult for our groups to get access to [Civic Amenity] sites. With the current relationships between compliance schemes not being totally amiable, it's causing some difficulty for our members to get in there.

"Plus on the re-use side of things, it's fine, but on the larger compliance schemes we were hoping for more contracts to come into place and hoping for compliance schemes to use not just our re-use services but our collection services."

Certification for the scheme is provided internally by FRN Enterprises, which has employed an assessor to audit groups based on various international standards (ISOs) including quality assurance, environmental management, and health and safety. This means that they can assure groups of the quality of services of local ARCs.              

The alliance has not only proven beneficial for FRN; Sarah Geddes, Operations Director for Group Reverse Logistics of DSGi, said: "This type of service is a great way of demonstrating our company's real commitment to the environment and shows that we take issues of corporate and social responsibility very seriously. This approach enables DSGi to play our part as a responsible high street retailer and also help our customers who often want to do the right thing when it comes to caring for the planet."           

DHL is the logistics provider to DSGi, and manages the collection of WEEE as well as the recycling services for items that cannot be re-used. Sean Hodges, Head of Environmental Solutions at DHL, is similarly pleased with the arrangement: "What's so exciting about this project is how it shows that benefiting local communities and delivering real corporate responsibility need not be costly. By utilising the existing supply chain infrastructure, we have been able to implement an efficient reverse logistics solution that is environmentally friendly in terms of reduced road miles, fuel use and emissions."

It is clear then that the scheme will continue to benefit all partners, whilst fulfilling the WEEE Directive to reduce landfill.