Directing WEEE

Local authorities can now register sites as official collection points for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), in accordance with the new WEEE Directive, as long as they are prepared to collect all five streams of WEEE.

Toni Pedoritti, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) director of sustainable development, is in charge of the new regulations. During a conference at the Recycling and Waste Forum, he responded to those who may not wish to collect large white goods. "All designated collection facilities should collect all five streams," he said, "unless, and only unless, site capacity does not allow them to take all five... If they do not, [approval] will take longer as I want to know why."

He added: "If we feel there is somebody in their manipulating that system, we will remove their producer compliance scheme status. We will be watching to make sure this works properly."