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South West company helps region's businesses meet new environmental lawIssued:28/02/2007The South West's only scheme which enables companies in the region to comply with new European laws has been given the green light by the Environment Agency. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2006 are designed to ensure that businesses bear the cost of collecting, treating and recycling waste electronic equipment. The new laws mean all businesses which produce, sell, import, export or rent electrical or electronic goods must join a ?compliance scheme? by 15 March 2007 to monitor and dispose of their goods. The Environment Agency has approved just one scheme in the South West, A1 Compliance, based at Redruth in Cornwall. Damian Lambkin, the Managing Director of The Electronic Waste Company which operates the A1 Compliance scheme said: ?The Environment Agency?s decision to approve the A1 Compliance scheme is good news for all affected companies in the South West who wish to use a local, dependable company to help them stay within the law and administer their responsibilities. If you sell or make virtually anything which uses a plug or batteries, you?re affected by the legislation. That includes, for example, gift shops, toy retailers and domestic appliance dealers as well as manufacturers of electrical and electronic goods.? The WEEE regulations affects products in thirteen categories including household appliances, IT equipment, lighting, tools, toys, medical devices, monitoring instruments and automatic dispensers. Businesses which do not join a compliance scheme face a jail sentence of up to two years and an unlimited fine. A1 Compliance is expected to become a market leader in the UK, because, unlike other schemes, it help companies fulfil all of the requirements of the regulations. This includes providing documentation which must be included with electrical and electronic equipment, point of sale displays and continuing information on the regulations. The company also operates an ?Authorised Treatment Facility? for waste equipment, allowing companies to easily arrange the disposal and recycling of applicable waste. 26 companies in the region have already provisionally joined the A1 Compliance scheme and, now it has been licensed by the Environment Agency, will become fully compliant members. A1 Compliance is also in discussions with a large number of companies from across the UK including the country?s leading electrical retailers and manufacturers. Damian continued: ?Elsewhere in the EU, where these regulations are already in force, companies have been fined for non-compliance. The Environment Agency says ignorance of the law is not an excuse, so if your business makes or sells virtually anything which uses an electrical current, you need to join a compliance scheme no later than the 15 March.? Currently, just ten other schemes have been approved by the Environment Agency, with the closest scheme to the South West in Wiltshire. More information on the WEEE Regulations is available from www.environment-agency.gov.uk/weee. Details of the A1 Compliance scheme are available from www.a1compliance.co.uk, or by calling 01209 211182. ENDS Notes to editors: For further media information, please contact Tim Bowcock on 084500 9 10 23/07828 99 157 or click here to send an email. The Electronic Waste Company carries the British Standard BS8555 for environmental compliance and operates a ?0% to landfill? policy.
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