Resellers will be given the opportunity to voice their views on the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive with a public consultation scheduled for later this year.

In December, the government announced a fourth delay to the implementation of the WEEE Directive (CRN, 19 December). However, after the public consultation is completed, an implementation date for the Directive is finally expected to be confirmed.

Richard Shrub, Department of Trade and Industry representative, said: “There has been an informal consultation. The public consultation will come out in the summer. This will run for three months, the responses gathered will be processed, then made public and we will proceed from there.”

Jon Godfrey, managing director of Life Cycle Services, said the delay needs to be dealt with soon.

“We have consulted until the cows come home and it is becoming an embarrassment,” he said.

“Basically there are two camps: those that agree with paying an upfront fee to deal with ‘orphaned WEEE’ and those that don’t. We are in a state of limbo. There are firms that have invested millions in getting ready for, and becoming compliant, with WEEE. We just need to know when and how it’s going to come into force.”

Mike Lawrence, managing director of VAR Bentpenny, said: “It is a public discussion and the channel will have their opportunity to offer their input. The channel will be concerned about being lumbered with paying for the disposal of equipment.”

Lawrence added that he doubts the comments and views of the channel will have much bearing on the final structure of the WEEE Directive.

trevor_treharne@vnu.co.uk