The Senior Defra Official Melanie Foster has explained that the UK regulations on the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment could remain with 14 categories but have protocols to produce six categories.
The changes would be required under the looming European Union Open Scope system. The new system which comes into force in January 2019, may also see producers of electrical products paying more towards recycling. Ms Foster posed the question “What does EU exit mean for WEEE regulations?” She explained that Open Scope will “come into force from 1 January 2019 as currently drafted”. There will be a move to six categories and “it is not easy to convert 14 categories into six – this could have a significant impact on the amount producers could have to pay”. She added: “We don’t know what the costs will be but there will be significant losers and winners.”