An article produced by PHS Wastetech about who is responisble for the waste management of electronic goods.

In the United Kingdom, any business that imports, manufactures, or sells electrical goods, or is responsible for the management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) has obligations underneath the WEEE legislation. This directive implements the key of “extended producer responsibility”, where the onus is on the producers to take financial responsibility for that environment impact of the items when these become waste. The goal would be to reduce the amount of waste from such products and improve their re-use, recover and recycling.

Under current WEEE legislation companies have certain duties in which older devices are being changed, the duty for collection, treatment and recycling from the old products lies with the producer of the replacement. Older equipment is regarded as anything purchased before 13th August 2005. For replacement of more recent equipment the duty for waste management lies with the equipment producer. When the company doesn’t replace older equipment (again, bought before 13th August 2005), the duty for disposal rests upon the business. The circumstances for leased or rented devices are slightly different – here responsibility has a tendency to lie with the equipment producer.

The WEEE Regulations affect all organisations that handle electrical equipment, regardless of size, including Producers (i.e. producers, professional importers or re-branders), Marketers to household clients (e.g. merchants, distance retailers for example internet merchants), Business end-users, WEEE treatment facilities and Exporters.

The WEEE Regulations require producers of equipment to satisfy certain obligations relevant to collection, treatment and recycling – including taking back items from clients or supplying alternatives. The regulations specify a minimum treatment standards and recycling targets and furthermore, all waste operators or exporters should be Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities and Approved Exporters.

Based on the latest figures realized by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) waste disposal composed 16% of Local Authority Collected Waste. This is among the highest groups of disposal and it is only exceeded by paper/cards and food. Particularly, the European Commission has prioritised WEEE among four waste streams for improvement in recycling and disposal. Presently, plans are now being examined to revise the WEEE regulations, which might see a rise in recycling targets, along with other changes.

From scheduled collections throughout your day-to-day waste to single off skip and complete waste management programs, PHS Wastetech has a practical solution to  your waste management needs.

We operate a fleet of vehicles in the UK including Rubbish Collection Vehicles (RCV’s) for emptying wheelie bins and collecting commercial waste sacks. These vary from 26 tonnes and 7.5 tonnes for sites with restricted access we operate caged 3.5 tonne vans, Front and back Finish Loaders, Skip Loaders and Roll-on Roll-off Hook Loaders.

Along with our extensive number of operational vehicles automobiles we are well suited to handle most waste management needs.

By having our Head Office’s dealing with of centralised services, e.g. invoicing and credit control, all operational depots is free to concentrate on getting the job completed. Our depots have dedicated telephone lines enabling you to talk directly to the person responsible for your account.

We are equally comfortable and experienced in all levels of waste management from collecting only one sack of waste each week to completely controlling a 24/7 operation at heavy industrial or construction sites.

PHS Wastetech would welcome the opportunity to work with you in finding the most practical and cost effective waste management option for your waste.

Alongside our waste management services, PHS Group offer a range of services to cater for the workplace environment. PHS Group offer services including chemical waste disposal, clinical waste collections, secure disposal of confidential waste and provision of waste compactors and bailers.

Call 0870 241 7491 to speak to a PHS Wastetech Sales Representative for a free no obligation quote.

PHS Wastetech – Clinical Waste Collection

The government, through the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, has identified procurement as an instrument in which it can encourage innovation when awarding contracts of work. The model is known as Forward Commitment Procurement (FCP) and is viewed as an effective tool in driving innovation to improve public services. Historically, one of the barriers to innovation can be a lack of private sector demand with the corresponding funding. The UK public sector spends around £236 billion per annum on goods and services and this can provide the financial influence to incentivise innovation in areas such as clinical waste collection.

Putting the FCP model into practice, Her Majesty’s Prison Service (HMPS) coordinated with other government departments to solve the issue of clinical waste relating to mattresses in prisons. Their objective was to secure a zero mattress solution. Once the need had been identified, HMPS consulted with the market to find a way to meet their requirements in a cost effective way. The outcome of the process in March 2009 was a fully managed zero waste mattress and pillow solution, involving innovative new covers that would reduce turnover and practically eliminate the need for clinical waste disposal. In addition, the estimated cost savings will be £5 million over the lifetime of the contract.

Recycling of clinical waste is an area that has attracted attention in recent years, as there is potential for innovation to greatly improve lives around the world, particularly in the developing world. In July 2011 it was reported that The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation had awarded a university in the Netherlands a grant to ‘Reinvent the toilet’, with the aim of developing new technology for processing waste without links to water, energy, or sewer lines at a cost that was affordable to the poor in developing countries. The number of those estimated to lack access to safe and affordable sanitation is estimated at approximately 2.6 billion people.

Today, it is more important than ever for businesses to manage waste properly. Strict environmental regulations apply and the onus is on the waste producer to dispose of waste products effectively. The EU Waste Framework Directive sets out a hierarchy to provide guidance to businesses when prioritising waste management. In order of importance, this is: prevention, preparation for re-use, recycling, other recovery (e.g. energy recovery) and finally disposal.

Additionally, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) provides more information on what these guidelines encompass:

• Prevention – This encourages keeping products for longer, re-using items and using less hazardous materials in manufacture.
• Preparing for re-use – It is advisable to clean, repair or refurbish items or spare parts to prolong their lifetime.
• Recycling – Turning waste material into new substances or products, which can include composting.
• Other recovery – Relating to actual disposal of items, by anaerobic digestion and incineration with energy recovery, gasification and energy-producing pyrolysis.
• Disposal – Incorporating the more traditional methods, such as landfill dumping and incineration without energy recovery.

Defra advises that all businesses or organisations that produce or handle waste must take all reasonable measures to both prevent waste and to apply the waste hierarchy when waste is being transferred.

The agency also offers suggestions on preventing waste, which can also save businesses money including:

• Reducing food waste
• For designers and manufacturers to use fewer materials or less hazardous materials in the design and manufacture of goods (where possible). Redesign of products to extend life.
• Reduction in packaging used in shipping
• Utilising of surplus materials by other businesses.
• Selling/donating or swappin items where possible e.g. furniture, electrical and electronic equipment and textiles.
• Retaining equipment for longer and repairing where possible.
• Hiring or leasing equipment rather than purchasing.
• Maximising life of company vehicle tyres through efficient logistics practices.
• Re-using carrier bags, refilling water containers from the tap rather than buying bottled water, using durable rather than disposable cutlery and containers. Asking suppliers to use re-useable packaging and do so with your customers.