Defra Launch WEEE Compliance Fee Consultation

Defra has launched a consultation on the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) compliance fee methodology, with two proposals put forward.

Defra confirmed in June that any 2020 compliance fee methodology for WEEE would need to take the impact of the coronavirus pandemic into account. This follows the adjustment of targets as a result of the lockdown on collection rates in the UK. The consultation can be accessed here.

The compliance fee has become an important tool for those compliance schemes who fall short of evidence to meet their obligation and remain compliant. As WEEE targets have been missed over the last 3 years, and are likely to be missed once again this year,the compliance fee allows money to be raised to fund campaigns to support recyclers and to communicate about recycling electricals.

Currently, the methodology and compliance fee scheme operator will be approved and announced no later than mid-February 2021.

Valpak Proposal

Under the proposal by Valpak, the compliance fee would be calculated separately for each scheme, using three elements:

1. Using a base cost per tonne, calculated from the weighted average collection and treatment costs of local authority collections.
2. A standard amount per tonne to reflect the direct scheme operational management costs
3. An allowance for schemes that fall short of their targets, in any stream, as a direct result of the reduction in national collections caused by the Covid-19 pandemic

JTA Proposal

JTA’s proposal for 2020 has three “one-off modifications”, which reflect the impacts and potential future impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on WEEE collections.

1. If any WEEE stream is below the national rate of actual collections for that stream the producer compliance scheme would pay a fee.
2. Producer compliance schemes would be remunerated for tonnages collected above their Covid compliance fee thresholds in that stream.
3. Irrespective of whether national collections reported by all producer compliance schemes for a stream are above or below the national targets for all fee calculations set, only the normal escalator would be applied.

Vikkie Fitzgerald, Head of WEEE at Clarity Environmental, said “Both proposals are of interest and we are extremely pleased to see the consideration given to the impacts of Covid-19 upon WEEE collection rates, and the difficulties faced by many businesses from lockdown earlier in the year. We will be supporting any of our members who wish to respond to the consultation and to arrange any further help in understanding how the compliance fee would affect them.”