UK channel players have been dealt a stinging blow by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) after it passed the buck to local councils over the disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
A campaign by the Independent Trade Association of Computing Specialists (Itacs) has been lobbying the DTI to allow small firms to take waste kit to a local distributor collection facility (DCF) free of charge.
Following weeks of campaigning, Itacs along with the National Association of Specialist Computer Retailers (NASCR) held a meeting with the DTI this month.
At the meeting the DTI said that while WEEE regulations did not prevent small IT retailers from using registered DCFs, existing legislation did and it is up to each local authority to decide its own policy.
A DTI statement said: “Some [councils] accept electrical waste from small businesses, but there is no common practice and it is entirely at the discretion of the local authority.”
The organisation added that some councils have changed their policies and others are expected to follow suit.
Hendy Armstrong, Itacs founder, said: “Itacs has already contacted 10 local councils, all of which said they would not be changing their policies. I fear we won’t find many that will. It should not be up to us to persuade councils – the DTI should do it.”
Jenny Stimpson, NASCR committee member, said: “We would be grateful if businesses could let us know if their local authority is considering changing its policy.”
Matt Woolley, owner of VAR Forum Computers, said: “As usual we’re passed from pillar to post; neither the councils nor the government are interested in small firms. The government forces me to take waste kit, but doesn’t let me take it to the local tip.”
