// The British Retail Consortium proposes a new Distributor Take-back Scheme
// BRC calls on the Secretary of State for the Environment to ensure the DTS is able to continue to support Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment collection in the UK.
The British Retail Consortium has proposed a new Distributor Take-back Scheme (DTS).
The DTS has been operated on behalf of the BRC for 12 years by Valpak Retail Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Services (WEEE) but is due to end on December 31.
Now that the general election is over the BRC has called on the Secretary of State for the Environment to ensure the DTS can continue to support WEEE collection in the UK.
It has called for the government to ensure sustainable progress in the retail industry continues to accelerate.
READ MORE: General Election: PM must now do “fundemental review” of business rates, BRC says
“A new Distributor Take-back Scheme is vital if the UK is to continue delivering one of the highest collection rates for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment in Europe,” BRC head of sustainability Peter Andrews said.
“A new DTS is needed to maintain the recycling momentum until the Government reviews the regulations in two years.
“The DTS will provide key information to help decision makers when reviewing the WEEE regulations.”
Valpak international and environmental compliance consultant Fiona Thompson said: “As well as giving retailers time to plan, the interim period would also enable the DTS to gather valuable data on the most effective ways to implement consumer take-back schemes.
“For example, are supermarkets more popular with consumers to return WEEE items to than out of town retail parks?
“Building a bank of robust data will enable government and industry to be much better positioned to make an informed choice in the future.”
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