The UK Government has now announced its intention to implement the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive six months later than proposed originally.

From June 2006 it will be an offence to dispose of hazardous electrical waste other than in an authorised manner.

This measure, while laudable, will place heavy burdens on those working within the electrical contracting and facilities management sectors. Even lamps and tubes are now defined as hazardous waste, as they often contain sodium and mercury. Indeed, it is estimated that each fluorescent tube discarded contains sufficient mercury to pollute 30 000 litres of water beyond a safe level for drinking.

Imagine the prospect of a contractor stripping out the lighting from an entire building, or even a floor of a building, and then having to dispose of the old lamps and tubes. It’s not as if the disposal route is clear. There remain just four or five facilities in the UK capable of handling this waste. This is measured against a backdrop of some 80 million lamps and tubes that are discarded every year.

It is beholden on everyone in the industry to work together. In the short term, moves such as that made by my own company WF Electrical in providing a lamp and tube recycling service through Mercury Recycling will help.

In the medium term, the Government has to face up to the reality that the UK is hopelessly inadequately prepared for hazardous waste disposal and recycling. In short, it has a big problem dealing with the WEEE needs.

Brian Smithers, Managing Director WF Electrical

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor