The UK Government has published its rules surrounding the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations, which will come into force in July 2007.

WEEE applies to any company that manufactures, imports or rebrands electrical goods in Europe. The Government has confirmed that all companies must join an approved compliance scheme by March 15, 2007.

Science Minister Malcolm Wicks told Parliament today: "Electrical waste such as toasters, fridges and washing machines are a growing environmental problem here in the UK with over two million tonnes being dumped in landfill last year alone.

"There is currently no incentive for those that produce them to care about the life cycle of their products. These regulations will mean they can no longer shirk this responsibility."

The Government has also announced the appointment of Valpak Retail WEEE Services as the operator of the Distributor Take-back Scheme (DTS) funded by £10m from retailers.

The scheme will establish a network of designated collection facilities where consumers can get rid of their electrical waste. The money will primarily be paid to local authorities to assist in the improvement of civic amenity sites so that electrical waste can be separately collected there.

More information on WEEE can be found at the DTI website and DEFRA website