Joanne Sonenshine, manager of environmental policy at the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), talks to Electronics Weekly about recycling legislation one year after implementation.

Why was there such confusion surrounding the implementation of the WEEE Directive?

The implementation of the WEEE Directive so far has been embroiled in confusion and controversy. Numerous consultations and revisions delayed the rollout and the UK, among other countries, missed every deadline set by the European Commission.

This confusion was partly because of the way the directive was developed. The government did not act on industry advice, and as such the regulations have proved difficult to manage and enforce because of a lack of consistent collaboration.

Has WEEE been a success?

One year on, no information has been provided by the EC regarding recycling rates. No proof has been offered that the WEEE directive has been a success… or otherwise. This has resulted in many manufacturers feeling confused and disillusioned as to whether the investment they have made in complying with the regulations has been worthwhile.

What's next for WEEE?

The directive is under review, and there is a possibility that the EC will ask producers to pay for collection as well as transport and recycling. This is of concern to a vast majority of consumer electronics manufacturers.

Environmentally speaking, maximising collection should be the focus of WEEE. If anything, asking producers to pay for the collection of WEEE may lead to lower collection rates. Essentially this becomes a disincentive to collect, in direct opposition to the primary aim of the legislation.
 
What role does the CEA play?

It is the CEA's responsibility to liaise between its members and regulatory organisations to represent the industry viewpoint. In many cases it is able to offer governments a different perspective on the practical impact of proposed regulations on the industry.

We encourage collaboration between industry and regulatory stakeholders to create an open, transparent environment for ongoing development. As the WEEE Directive proves, recycling legislation is most effective and easiest to manage when developed through a period of consultation with all stakeholder groups. Without the proper industry input, regulators risk implementing regulation that is inefficient and fails in its primary aim: to encourage and increase recycling of electronic goods through efficient and effective collaboration with industry.

What's best for industry?

The electronics industry is renowned for innovation and the speed of development. Legislation struggles to keep up with the pace of change and is therefore not an appropriate way to regulate the industry.

There have been huge strides in the energy efficiency of CE products in the past decade, proving that as an industry, electronics manufacturers are showcasing massive improvements and an enhanced desire to drive innovation to reduce energy consumption. The CE industry should be commended and encouraged to continue its efforts to improve energy efficiency, rather than be forced down a bumpy track by legislation. This will only hinder progress.

See also: Q5 - Interviews with electronics industry leaders
Read all the Electronics Weekly Q5 interviews. From ARM's chairman, Sir Robin Saxby, to touchscreen technology firm Zytronic's MD, Mark Cambridge, the business leaders share their particular insights on the UK electronics industry.

See also: Electronics Weekly's WEEE Directive In Full Force, a roundup of content related to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment regulations.