26 July 2006 | Paul Snell

The government has unveiled the timetable for implementing the European Commission's directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

A consultation on the draft regulations will run until 17 October and details are available from www.dti.gov.uk

The directive makes manufacturers, producers and importers (which includes buyers) of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) responsible for recycling it. Its introduction in the UK had been delayed (Web news, 16 December) while the government deliberated over how to implement it.

Producers, including importers, will have to comply with the main obligations and requirements of the directive, such as marking equipment with an EEE symbol from 1 April 2007. They will also have to join a producer compliance scheme by 15 March 2007. Failure to meet any of the obligations will be classed as a criminal offence.

Producer compliance schemes will be required to give information on members to the Environment Agency so the agency can see how much EEE the producer distributes to the UK. These schemes may also arrange for the collection, treatment and recycling of WEEE material.

Energy minister Malcolm Wicks, said in a statement: "Manufacturers and importers will have responsibility to ensure they plan their new and existing products to be recycled rather than dumped."

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