Call for evidence on reforming the producer responsibility system for waste electricals 2023

Overview

The purpose of this call for evidence is to gather evidence and views to support reforms to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 that go beyond the specific proposals set out in the accompanying consultation and impact assessment that were also published today.  The evidence sought here will inform wider policy development intended to support the drive towards a more circular economy and Net Zero commitments by ensuring products are designed and discarded in a way that lowers environmental impacts

This call for evidence considers areas for reform where currently a lack of evidence precludes detailed policy proposals from being developed. We have set out a number of ideas on which we welcome your views and supporting evidence. Those ideas do not represent agreed government policy. Nevertheless, government is committed to developing policy in these areas at the same time as implementing policies set out in the consultation document.

As well as responding to this call for evidence you are also encouraged to respond to the separate consultation document and impact assessment published today.  These set out detailed proposals for reforms relating to the provision of a new collection infrastructure for household WEEE financed by producers of electrical and electronic equipment and strengthen obligations placed on retailers (including online sellers). Finally, it proposes new obligations on online marketplaces and measures designed to ensure importers and manufactures of vapes properly finance recycling costs when they become waste.

The ideas set out in this call for evidence will need further development and consultation before they can be implemented. This means that not all the reforms will be made at the same time. Indeed, it is envisaged that reforms will be phased starting potentially as early as next year with the consultation document measures on online marketplaces, free collection of large domestic appliances by retailers on delivery of a new item and the introduction of a new EEE category for vapes.  The start of the rollout of the household collection system is anticipated from 2026, along with the other measures sets out in the consultation document. It is anticipated that policy proposals arising from the call for evidence will be phased in over a longer timeframe.