WRN celebrates its 6th birthday
Thursday, 01 May 2008 19:21
On the 30th April 2002 the WEEE Recycling Network was officially launched at the University of Exeter.
Funded by the Onyx Environmental Trust (for a period of 2 years) to the tune of £224,000, the network aimed to provide free research and development advice to SME's within the UK to help them understand the then forthcoming WEEE Regulations. At this time the WEEE Recycling Network was unique, being the first and only independent channel open to SMEs.
Although the The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations have been enforced in the UK for 12 months, a poll undertaken by NetRegs has found that only 12% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK could name the regulations.
However, the delays in the implementation of the WEEE Regulations meant that the WEEE Recycling Network had to find a way of stretching financial support until July 2007 or cease the network’s activities.
Due to changes in the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, which removed Research and Development from being directly supported after 2004, it was not possible for additional funding to be given to the WEEE Recycling Network from the Onyx Environmental Trust. It was also felt by the Network’s management team that further advance of knowledge (from a UK perspective) would not be achievable until the government provided clearer guidelines. Additionally, by this time (2004) there were other supporting services available to SME's operated by the ‘would be’ Compliance Schemes, which meant that some of the networks unique selling points were no longer that novel.
Rather than sit around and do nothing, or doing the same as everyone else, the WEEE Recycling Network embarked on 4 year global voyage of discovery.
With the support of the then DTI Global Watch Programme, the WEEE Recycling Network team started to open discussions with Japanese Producers of WEEE.
Being uncertain of they were going, or what they would learn, the team at WEEE Recycling Network had just one simple objective: “To seek out new knowledge on WEEE”. Going directly to the source of this knowledge, the WEEE Recycling Network team undertook a 4 year secondment programme with Japan.
During this programme DARP Environmental Ltd played host in the UK for 2 Japanese experts: -
- One with technical knowledge
- One with legislative knowledge
The Japanese, in return, played host in Japan for 2 of DARP’s people:-
- One was hosted by Tokyo Eco Recycle
- One was hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Trade and Industry (METI)
During these 4 years, ,DARP also obtained support form the DTI SMART programme, which helped the WEEE Recycling Network team understand the technical issues affecting the recovery, treatment and recycling of plastics, glass and other problematic materials emanating from many different forms of consumer goods – expanding DARP’s knowledge on material recycling in general.
The learning gained from this work has helped DARP develop an overall recycling policy recommendation for the UK government: -
01The UK Government should consider setting up a national recycling centre of excellence to encourage innovation.
02Government funding should be strategically focused and made available to ‘kick start’ recycling demonstration facilities.
03A policy of longer-term funding programmes should be structured to persist over a decade where required.
04Government support should not stop with R&D, but should continue through to product development and field trials to market.
05The government should bring in simple regulations for key sectors, with a longer view to amending and extending measures as experience is gained.
06The government should be encouraged to ‘rate’ recovery, treatment and recycling process as a means of helping customers understand the performance standards in operation by recycling companies, and as a means of measuring their true environmental benefit in combating climate change.
If you agree or disagree with these recommendations, please let DARP and the WEEE Recycling Network team know by contacting us.