Under the UK WEEE regulations, distributors directly supplying new Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) for use by private households, are required to offer "in store" take back for all old EEE returned by consumers when they are purchasing new products. This must be free of charge, providing that any such WEEE is of equivalent type to and has fulfilled the same function as the supplied equipment.

Retailers become exempt from offering in-store take back by joining the UK's only WEEE distributor take back scheme (DTS), which in many cases will provide a practical and cost effective alternative.

Valpak has been appointed to operate the distributor take back scheme by the Government. The British Retail Consortium (BRC), representing the retail sector, and the DTI have agreed a contribution of £10 million will be available to facilitate the establishment of a national network of collection facilities. The DTS has been set up to facilitate the collection of the £10 million from retailers and distribute it accordingly.

As a member of the DTS, there will be no need to:

• Provide one-for-one, like-for-like take back of WEEE in store

• Organise storage of WEEE on your site

• Contract with a third party to remove stored WEEE for treatment

The DTS will also assist its members in meeting their further obligation to inform consumers as to the location of convenient WEEE collection facilities through www.recycle-more.co.uk. For more information on the Consumer Information Obligations please click here.