UK Lighting Industry Violates eWaste Laws

September 13, 2008

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Despite an official warning from the government last August, manufacturers and wholesalers of fluorescent lamps in the UK continue to impose a 16p (about 28 cents) per unit charge on customers to cover compliance costs related to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive (WEEE), even though the practice is illegal under legislation, BusinessGreen.com reports.

The WEEE directive was introduced in the UK last year with the goal of ensuring that the cost of potentially hazardous electronic waste was covered by manufactures.

Kath Barker, a spokeswoman for the WEEE implementation team told BusinessGreen.com that the regulation “does not give a producer the right to impose an additional charge on purchaser to cover the cost of treatment and recycling as required by the regulations.”

Electrical Distributors Association Director, Nigel Ellis, told BusinessGreen.com that he was surprised that WEEE-related surcharges were in violation of the directive.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Stay competitive through sustainability.

Find out how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Best Practices: Product Environmental Compliance

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader