The Environment Agency (EA) has published its new charging scheme for regulatory permits and services. The new fees, which will take effect from 2019, will result in increases for compliance schemes and English-based large producers.
Following a consultation on proposed charges between 29 November 2017 and 26 January 2018, the EA has now confirmed that a number of regulatory regimes will change, including Producer Responsibility for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
Released on Wednesday 23 March 2018, the Environment Agency’s charging scheme document confirms how it is to recover full costs to regulate the WEEE system.
The EA has confirmed that small producers will not see any increase to their existing £30 fee, following feedback that the increase to producer charges were too great. Large producers will pay £750 for their annual fees, which will be paid in addition to the cost of the WEEE recycling evidence required to offset their obligations.
Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities (AATFs) will also experience an increase in fees, relating to a number of charges.
Producer compliance schemes will experience the most significant changes, with the introduction of a £12,500 annual subsistence charge from 2019. The EA says the overall response to the introduction of this charge for schemes was favourable and they felt it was the “fairest means to recover the full costs for regulating the WEEE system”.
Vikkie Fitzgerald, WEEE compliance scheme manager, said of the charges: “We understand the need for a subsistence fee. We agree that this is the fairest way for the EA to cover the costs of regulating the system, and ensures that businesses rather than the public are covering these costs. We can also reassure our members that they will see no change to their membership fees as a result of this new charge.
“We are concerned, however, about the fees being paid by large producers and understand that these increases may not be met favourably by some businesses. We will continue to support our producers, and help to drive down the cost of compliance by utilising our WEEE recycling network to get the best prices possible for our members’ obligations.”
Full details on the charging can be found here.
