UK Falls Below European Average In WEEE Recycling, ERP Survey Finds

9 May 2011

Waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling rates survey ranks the UK just below average in the pan-European results

The UK's WEEE recycling performance placed it slightly below the average for the countries included in the ERP survey, placing the UK in sixth place among the nations surveyed by ERP, well below the best-performing nation Norway (19kg per head) but well above the lowest tonnage, recorded by Poland (3.7kg per head).

The 7.5 kilogram (kg) per head of population of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) collected for recycling in the UK in 2010 puts it below the 8.26kg per person average recorded by the ERP survey, which took in 11 European nations.

ERP operates in 12 European countries, and the scheme's chief executive and president, Umberto Raiteri, said the results would allow it to gauge recycling habits across each country and to encourage householders to recycle more.

The UK, and all the other countries surveyed except Poland, all collected above the 4kg per head collection target required under the EU WEEE Directive.

"We have found the results of this research both interesting and useful," said Umberto Raiteri. "Interesting because it gives us some insight into the different behaviours and attitudes of varying nationalities to recycling, and useful, because it helps us in shaping our plans for future success in recycling around Europe."

"We know that one size does not fit all, each country faces different challenges, but it is up to us to address those challenges as best we can and tailor our service to be cost effective and efficient for our member companies," he added.

For more information visit www.erp-recycling.co.uk

Darrel Moore