Due to the lack of an appropriate data collection and recycling infrastructure within the UK at the current time, there have been delays in its planned implementation. After much investigation Rapid can confirm that:

• The current date of implementation for this directive has been put back to 1st June 2006.
• New electrical products that are first available and put on the market after the WEEE directive has been adopted into UK law will have to have an additional label applied to them. This will take the form of a crossed out wheeled bin with a solid bar underneath. (Note that this rule only applies to newly manufactured and available products, any older stock manufactured and stored prior to the date when the directive becomes law does not have to be labelled, even if it is sold after the adoption date). The symbol must be printed visibly, legibly and indelibly. (For detailed measurements you should refer to the directive itself).
• The directive will require that “Producers” of affected electrical equipment, i.e. new equipment that is available for sale after the 1st June 2006 will finance the take-back and recycling, or recovery of such items at the end of their life.
• A “Producer” is the original manufacturer, a supplier of “Own Brand” products, (even if these are made for them by another manufacturer), or the supplier of electrical products imported into the UK from abroad.
• “Producers” will have to make information concerning the component materials of their products available to the treatment facilities in order to ensure that products are dismantled and disposed of, or recycled in a safe manner.
• The “Producer” will have to register with and provide details of their sales of the affected electrical products to the Environment Agency so that the data can be used to ensure that their respective recycling targets are fulfilled.
• Compliance schemes will be set up in order to manage the data and liabilities of “Producers”, (though “Producers” can elect to manage their obligation themselves if they wish).
• The DTi anticipates that the overall cost to the “Producers” in order to comply with this directive in the UK is likely to be between £210 and £455 million.
• It is estimated that an increase in price of 1-2% is likely on most WEEE products, with a higher increase of 3-4% for more complicated items. (Though any actual price increases will be influenced by market conditions).