Reuse Network responds to WEEE consultation

In December, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) launched its WEEE consultation on the proposed reforms to the existing Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations. 

What is the consultation and why is it happening now? 

The Government is exploring how to enhance the collection infrastructure for household WEEE, with the intention that producers and retailers will provide funding to enable this. The aim is to increase the amount of WEEE that is collected separately from households. Proposed improvements include better access to collection points for consumers, more efficient logistics for collecting and transporting WEEE, and increased cooperation between local authorities and producers.  

In addition to the consultation, there is also a call for evidence which seeks views on longer-term ways of ensuring the WEEE system supports the circular economy, including how WEEE is treated at the end of its life. 

Opportunities for the charity reuse sector 

The WEEE consultation review is an opportunity for the charity reuse sector to have its say on the proposed changes. The primary objective of the sector is to ensure the availability of high-quality electrical products for repair and reuse. Last year alone, Reuse Network members across the UK reused over 150,000 electrical items and made these available to communities across the country. Diverting WEEE to reuse charities will aid the sector in its efforts to combat climate change and alleviate poverty. 

The proposed changes offer lots of opportunities for the reuse sector if the right parties are leading the way and there is the potential to grow the reuse sector to help support such radical changes.  

At Reuse Network, we envision an opportunity for our industry to provide an alternative to Local Authority’s bulky collections. Where a Local Authority may have one or two vans dedicated to collecting bulky items in their area, our Reuse Network members have fleets at their disposal to carry out bulky collections. In turn, an increase in large domestic appliances making their way to reuse charities will help generate more social value in our local communities. 

However, the wider sector may face consequences due to certain proposals. For instance, the implementation of small WEEE kerbside collections could mean that charity shops receive fewer donations of small electricals as convenience will mean that a trip to the charity shop is no longer necessary. Where small electricals are a priority for charity shops, Reuse Network members tend to focus more on the reuse of large domestic appliances more than anything else.  

Speaking on the launch of the WEEE consultation, Reuse Network CEO Craig Anderson said

“The consultation is looking at a central administrator to oversee and arrange all WEEE collections, reuse and recycling in the UK. This would be a complete overhaul of the current system. What we need for the charity reuse sector is a commitment from all PCSs to support more reuse in the interim and future.

The waste hierarchy must be followed, and Reuse must be better supported by producers and regulators. Whether it is setting separate reuse targets or ensuring the means are in place to make reuse central to the operations of WEEE compliance and collection, is of paramount importance.”

What happens next? 

The WEEE Review Consultation and Call for Evidence have now gone live. As the representative for reuse charities and social enterprises across the UK, we are currently working with our members to collect feedback and views to help form a response to the consultation on behalf of Reuse Network members. 

In addition, we are working with our members to prepare the sector and ensure they are best placed to offer wider services in line with the review recommendations. 

You can view both the WEEE Review Consultation and Call for Evidence at the links below:

Electrical waste: reforming the producer responsibility system – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Electrical waste: reforming the producer responsibility system – call for evidence – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)