E-waste laws take effect

After a prolonged delay, a new directive entitled The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive has come into effect, requiring manufacturers to fund recycling schemes and retailers to offer take-back services to customers.

Originally intended to go live in August 2005, the laws finally came into effect yesterday (July 1st).

E-waste includes the likes of PCs, games consoles, microwaves and washing machines – and has become the fastest growing form of rubbish in the EU, according to the BBC.

“I think this is an absolutely great piece of legislation,” said Jonathan Wright, a senior supply chain executive for Accenture.

“In the past, all that companies focused on was getting products made and getting them out to customers. Now, organisations are having to think about what is going to happen after the product has been sold.”