The LARAC Policy team is currently working through the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' open consultation on implementation of the recast directive and UK systems changes, and we need our members' input.
The UK system changes are intended to reduce the overall burden of regulation and forms part of the Government's wider Red Tape challenge.
Four options are presented for consultation –
•Option 1 – Do nothing
•Option 2 – A National Compliance Scheme.
•Option 3 – A Collection target and Compliance fee
•Option 4 – A matching process of collection sites to PCSs
A statement within the consultation documents indicates that although government does not have a single preferred option, it is currently minded, (following informal consultation) to pursue either option 3 or 4.
Proposals are also outlined which gives operators of designated collection facilities (DCFs) of household WEEE, which includes Local Authority sites, the freedom to retain control over the treatment of WEEE streams with the potential to generate net income for the collector, as opposed to DCFs being required to hand over WEEE to a producer compliance scheme.
Initial thoughts are that as local authorities we want transparency within any new scheme or procedure, and we need to ensure that we are not placed under additional financial burden in an increasingly difficult financial climate.
Consultation documentation can be found HERE
Your thoughts are welcomed in the discussion exchange.
Andrew Bird
LARAC Policy Support Officer
