Defra announces plan for producers to pay for vape disposal costs
A new category of electrical equipment for vapes is set to be introduced by the UK Government as part of plans to ensure the cost of collecting and treating waste electricals falls on producers.
As part of new plans, online marketplaces will also need to register with the Environment Agency and report data on UK sales of their overseas sellers.
The data will be used to calculate the financial contribution online marketplaces are required to make towards the collection and treatment of waste electricals.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the cost of that annual registration will be subject to a consultation led by the Environment Agency.
Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh announced the changes as part of plans to ensure online marketplaces and vape producers contribute towards the cost of recycling waste electricals.
Defra said the changes will help fund recycling services and “kick-start” the country on the road to a circular economy, which it calls a “priority” for the government.
Electrical equipment like vapes are being sold in the UK by producers who are failing to pay their fair share when recycling and reusing of dealing with old or broken items.
Mary Creagh commented: “Electrical equipment like vapes are being sold in the UK by producers who are failing to pay their fair share when recycling and reusing of dealing with old or broken items.
“Today we’re ending this: creating a level playing field for all producers of electronics, to ensure fairness and fund the cost of the treatment of waste electricals.
“As part of our Plan for Change, we are helping UK businesses compete and grow, and we continue to get more households recycling, cracking down on waste and ending the throwaway society.”
All waste electrical equipment must be reported under one of 14 separate categories. Currently, vapes are reported under category 7 which covers toys, leisure and sports equipment.
Defra said adding a new category for vapes will ensure producers properly finance the cost of their separate collection and treatment when the items become waste.
Alex Baldock, CEO at Currys, said: “We believe that if you sell something, this comes with a commitment to help keep it working and then to recycle it responsibly when it reaches the end of its life.
“We welcome the Government’s new measures to help level the playing field for responsibility for waste, making online marketplaces do their part.”
The UK Government has formed a Circular Economy Taskforce, comprising members from industry, academia, and civil society.
The Taskforce will lead the development of a Circular Economy Strategy for England, which is set to be published next year.
Defra said it will set out plans for wider reforms that support the transition to a circular economy across the UK.
CIWM calls changes “common-sense” improvements
Reacting to the announcement, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) said: “These are welcome and common-sense improvements from Government, which close a couple of loopholes currently giving online retailers an unfair advantage in avoiding their responsibilities and vape manufacturers a free ride to place largely unrecyclable materials on the market.
“Electricals are a growing and complex waste stream, and every step towards levelling the pitch and helping towards higher recycling levels is a positive.”
Head of Recycling Policy at the Environmental Services Association (ESA), Patrick Brighty, said: “The ESA strongly supports measures to minimise the risk of freeloading by overseas electronics producers who are not paying their way to ensure their products are recycled properly in the UK.
“This currently places additional burden on UK-based retailers, but today’s announcement helps to level the playing field and will generate additional funding for waste electrical recycling services.
“The ESA believes the best way to solve this growing problem is to properly fund and implement kerbside collections for WEEE across the country, rather than the postcode lottery of kerbside collections that exists today.”
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