Distributor Take Back Scheme phase two (January 2010 to December 2012) - DCF register

Valpak Retail WEEE Services Ltd (Valpak) has been re-appointed to operate the Distributor Take Back Scheme (DTS) for the next three year phase (phase two), which lasts from January 2010 to December 2012.

The DTS is the mechanism by which most distributors of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) meet the requirement to contribute toward the collection of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) from the public. DTS members do not have to take back EEE themselves, but instead contribute funds to Local Authorities and Councils for WEEE designated collection facilities (DCFs) at civic amenity sites.

The DTS operator is also responsible for maintaining a register of the UK's network of approved Designated Collection Facilities (DCFs).

the DTS and DCFs - phase two
For DCF operators, the transition into phase two of the DTS will be straight-forward. There is no requirement to re-register sites as Designated Collection Facilities (DCFs) as all approvals will continue on an ongoing basis unless Valpak is advised otherwise.

If any DCF operator would like to make any changes to their DCF application they can do so at the DTS website using the reference number which was allocated during their initial application.

Local Authority and Council DCFs - phase two
In phase two of the DTS, there are four mechanisms for providing additional funding to Local Authorities or Councils in relation to the provision of DCFs at CA sites (or equivalent such as household waste recycling centres). These are as follows:

• DTS will provide £1,000 per eligible site to assist with maintenance of the DCF provision



• funding of between £6,000 and £9,000 for new or replacement sites that register as DCFs will continue to be made available throughout phase two of the DTS



• funding will be made available for existing CA sites registered as DCFs in the event that they wish to add hitherto uncollected streams of WEEE. This will be provided to the value of £1,200 per added stream



• additional funding may be made available throughout 2011 and 2012 depending on the level of uptake of the DTS by the retail sector (further details to be confirmed)

the role of the DTS - a brief history
The UK WEEE Regulations offer two options to retailers (referred to as 'distributors') selling electronic and electrical equipment to members of the public. They can either offer free of charge, one-for-one, take back of waste equipment or they can join the Distributor Takeback Scheme (DTS). In December 2006 the Government announced the appointment of Valpak Retail WEEE Services Ltd, a subsidiary of Valpak Ltd., as the operator of the Distributor Takeback Scheme (DTS) following a competitive tender process. Formal appointment followed on 5 April 2007.

In the period following formal approval, Valpak set about registering distributors as members of the DTS and using their membership fees to support an "adequate network" of WEEE collection facilities at household waste recycling centres (formally known as civic amenity or CA sites) and other collection facilities that allow consumers to deposit their WEEE for recycling. By registering and supporting this network the DTS is meeting the obligation placed on retailer members to offer a free recycling route to their customers.

The Department for Business (BIS) launched a consultation in December 2008 which amongst other things sought views from stakeholders on the future of the DTS on expiry of the existing arrangements. Subsequent discussions between BIS and representatives of both the retail sector and local authorities culminated in agreement for DTS phase two as set out above.

DTS membership
The DTS now has in excess of 2,850 members, all of whom have contributed toward the £10m fund required to make the scheme a success. This membership is made up of all types of retailer, from large high street chains, supermarkets, and department stores to independent electrical specialists, hardware stores, garden centres and even local grocers. This membership covers over 75% of all sales of electrical equipment in the UK.

the Designated Collection Facility network and Local Authorities
Despite the extremely tight timescales involved in the initial implementation of the UK WEEE regulations, all of the 208 Local Authorities in England and Wales and Councils in Northern Ireland and Scotland have registered all of their recycling centres as DCFs for WEEE. Of the £10m collected from DTS members, the vast majority has also been distributed to these Local Authorities and Councils to assist in improving their sites for members of the public to be able to deposit WEEE for recycling.

As it stands today, every one of the 1,123 recycling centres in the UK now collects WEEE, which means that every DTS member from John'o'Groats to Lands End can point their customers to their local recycling centre network safe in the knowledge that their equipment can be collected there for recycling - and that their financial contribution assisted in making this possible. Added to that a further 420 locations have been registered as DCFs, including LA depots for bulky waste collection and those operated by the not for profit and charity sector, retailers and commercial enterprises. All material from all DCFs is recycled at the cost of the producers of this equipment and not at the cost of councils.