Firms unaware of WEEE responsibility

Some 74 per cent of IT staff need more information about WEEE

Nearly three-quarters of internal IT staff still have either no idea of their obligations under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, or need more information.

Though the EU regulations’ penalty system focuses on equipment suppliers, officially users are responsible for ensuring that obsolete kit such as PCs and printers are disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.

The law came into force in the UK on 1 January, but the majority of businesses are still in the dark about what the measures mean. WEEE compliance will rely on them negotiating take-back contracts with their equipment suppliers.

According to research by law firm Eversheds, 74 per cent of IT staff need more information about WEEE, 60 per cent believe the date for compliance has already passed, 50 per cent are yet to make contact with a recycler, and 22 per cent have no idea what the directive is.

The date for the regulations coming into force has changed so many times that businesses are suffering from WEEE-fatigue, says Eversheds IT law partner Jane Southworth.

‘UK companies have a fairly good level of awareness, but have little idea as to their obligations, and even less will to comply with them,’ she said.

Firms should be organised into a national scheme for discharging their responsibilities, says Gartner analyst Meike Escherich. ‘End users must be aware that when they sign up for PCs and servers they need to make it clear that they want disposal and recycling to be part of the contract,’ she said.

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