REPIC launches report into 2007 WEEE regulations

Compliance specialist REPIC has released an essay evaluating the last 15 years of WEEE regulations, looking to provide a "fresh and well-informed perspective" on trends.

The essay, titled ‘Looking Back to Look Forward’ examines the influencing trends for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) placed on the market and the amount waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) available for collection.

REPIC highlights the rapidly changing landscape and key events which have influenced EEE placed on the market (POM) and WEEE available for collection over the last 15 years.

Despite the upward trend in the amount of EEE placed on the market, and increases in WEEE collection targets, most notably in 2017, the amount of WEEE made available for collection has not increased.

A review of the data from the last 15 years illustrates the non-linear relationship between the two and the reasons for this. It also considers how WEEE arises and is collected, and activities that take place away from the WEEE system.

Commenting on the essay, Louise Grantham, chief executive at REPIC, said: "Understanding the past is essential if we are to plan for the future. We need to know how much WEEE is likely to arise, who will be collecting it, required treatment capacity and types of technology needed to treat it and the resources (materials) that will be generated from treatment.

"The COVID-19 pandemic in particular demonstrated that WEEE is different to many other wastes, in that the amount of EEE placed on the market in a year does not necessarily influence the amount of WEEE made available for collection in that year. In fact, there is a significant gap between the two figures, but this does not mean that the WEEE system is unsuccessful.

The report explains that since the implementation of the first Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations in the UK in 2007, a national network of collection points operated by local authorities, producers, retailers and many other organisations has been established and in excess of 9 million tonnes of WEEE has been collected, treated, recycled and recovered.

REPIC explained that during this time there have been significant changes in the composition of WEEE, product technology and our use of electricals, particularly during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the WEEE sector has successfully adapted to manage this. For instance, through changes to collection infrastructure and treatment requirements, including the introduction of mandatory in-store take back of WEEE for larger retailers.

However, REPIC said in the report that there are many interdependent and discrete factors influencing the amount of EEE placed on the market and WEEE made available for collection, and consequently the return rate. The compliance specialist said that reported WEEE collections are therefore "not the best or only proxy for identifying WEEE system success".

The report examined the different WEEE categories and provided an in-depth analysis of the trends seen.

With IT and consumer equipment, for example, the amount placed on the market fell sharply between 2008 and 2013, although has since largely stabilised.

REPIC added that similar trend can be seen for Consumer Equipment EEE placed on the market, where not only have products been subject to light weighting and miniaturisation, but also functions that were previously performed by products in this category are now more regularly performed by the laptops, tablets and mobile phones reported in IT & Telecoms.

"Therefore, it is important to consider these two categories together when analysing data trends," REPIC said.

The reduction in size and weight, and product convergence, has led Consumer Equipment EEE placed on the market to reduce from circa 90,000 tonnes per annum to just over 30,000 tonnes per annum

Often these new lighter products replace a number of heavier items which are the types of products that tend to be kept for long periods of time and could still arise in the waste stream for many years to come. REPIC explained that a good example of this is home audio equipment, as people tend to keep their old stereos, CD players and DVD players, despite never or rarely using them.

Product convergence, where many individual products are replaced by one product which performs the same functions, can be seen with smartphones, which are now used for satellite navigation, photography, playing music, streaming, and managing home automation.

With laptops, REPIC's 2022 consumer research indicated a good level of reuse takes place prior to the WEEE system, with 28% of owners giving an unwanted laptop away. This is compared to 26% who recycled it in store, 24% took it to a HWRC and 5% put it in the bin. Fewer than 3% arranged for the council to collect it and only 1% left it outside their home.

Despite this reuse, the research found that hoarding of these types of electrical and electronic products is the "most proliferate". There are over 11.7 million laptops in UK households that aren't being used, the equivalent of 2 in every 5 homes.

"Hoarding" unwanted appliances means the potential for reuse is lost and the precious metals and other materials they contain are not recovered, REPIC explained, adding that "this further illustrates the challenges and complexity in setting collection targets based on EEE placed on the market."

REPIC explained that it "recognises that the sector's achievement to date is due to organisations that, although competitors, have worked together constructively to find solutions to any challenges".

To reflect on the 15 years and how the landscape has changed since the WEEE Regulations first started operating in 2007, REPIC is undertaking a "15 day, 15 location, 15 great stories" WEEE Cycle Network Event, from Friday 2nd June – Friday 16th June 2023.

Launched on 18 April in London, the first WEEE Cycle Network event will see REPIC and friends from the sector start from Alness, in mainland Scotland and cycle to Sittingbourne, a distance of over 850 miles and visiting 15 different locations involved daily in the reuse, repair and recycling of waste electricals.

Celebrating 15 great stories along the route, and joining up a network of AATFs, Local Authority sites, repair and reuse initiatives, this event will also provide the opportunity to look forward to what lies ahead in both the forthcoming WEEE consultation and the transition to a more circular economy.

Ms Grantham, said at the launch: "While change is nothing new to the WEEE sector, the speed, scale and impact of a variety of fundamental changes – digitalisation, other new and innovative product technologies, consumer purchasing habits to name a few – have undeniably transformed the landscape over the last 15 years.

"To complement the WEEE Cycle Network event, REPIC has published the research essay. Part of REPIC's commitment to lead and shape producer responsibility."

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