WEEE delays lead to cash payout for councils

Local authorities throughout the UK are to receive a cash payment to help them cover the additional costs of implementing WEEE regulations caused by delays to the directive.


The slow implementation of the directive, which aims to usher in a cultural change on how electrical waste is disposed of, has led to rising costs for waste managers who have prepared in advance then found themselves waiting for the regulations to arrive.

Central Government has now moved to quell complaints that local authorities have been left to shoulder the extra expense and has announced a total of £14.7 million in grants to out-of-pocket councils.

“The money is intended to cover local authorities’ estimated new burden costs resulting from the delayed implementation of the WEEE Directive,” a DTI spokeswoman told edie.

She said the payment was only meant to cover the costs incurred by the delay and a special grant would be launched to help with the implementation later in the year.

“Once we have more data on waste arisings from the Environment Agency, from local authorities on actual costs incurred, and a clearer idea of implementation dates for the WEEE Directive, we will be making additional money available via a special grant scheme.”

She said the department would be talking with the Local Government Authority about how best to sctructure the a scheme.

by Sam Bond

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