With the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations live in the UK from the 2 January 2007, obligations will shortly be placed on all businesses who sell Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) to contribute to systems to collect WEEE from consumers.

The new law will affect all types of EEE retailers, from large high street names to small retailers who sell a few EEE items to the public. It will include internet sellers, catalogue retailers and will even include those businesses providing EEE to the public as gifts, promotional items or competition prizes. It will also include manufacturers who sell direct to the public.

Obligated retailers then have two options. Firstly they can offer in store take back of WEEE items. This would mean accepting WEEE over the counter and ensuring that these items are stored safely and transported to an approved treatment facility.

The other option is much more straightforward. They register with the Distributor Take Back Scheme (DTS). This service, supported by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and a number of other sector specific trade associations, offers all retailers a simple and cost effective solution.

Retailers pay a fee to register with the scheme and those funds go towards supporting the development of a national network of facilities for the collection of WEEE. Businesses that join the scheme will be exempt from having to offer in store take back of old cookers, toasters and all other WEEE items.

Small retailers can join for a low fixed fee to ensure the costs on their business are not an over burden and if they contact their trade association they may be able to receive a further discount.

"The DTS offers retailers a simple and clean solution to their WEEE distributor responsibilities" said Nigel Smith, Corporate Social responsibility Director at the BRC. "This option is not just for large retailers but suits all sizes and types of retailers and we think it is a fair and safe option."

The DTS will then use funds to assist in the enhancement of collection points across the UK. It is most likely that these sites will be local authority civic amenity sites where large numbers of consumers already take their WEEE items.

"By building on the existing collection network and by supporting local authorities to make provision for WEEE collection we believe the consumer will receive the best service," continued Mr Smith. "The consumer already associates taking WEEE to these sites, and local authorities will receive some additional support to provide the service so that the material can be moved on to treatment plants and for recycling."

Valpak, the UK's leading provider of compliance and recycling services, has won the tender to operate the scheme and will facilitate both the registration of retailers and the distribution of funds to local authorities. They will deliver the service through Valpak Retail WEEE Services Ltd. and are now ready to register retailers who wish to take this compliance option.

A new website has been launched to allow retailers to register to join the DTS, and it contains all the details of what to do and what the scheme means for prospective members. The website address is www.valpak.co.uk/dts

James Skidmore, Business Development Manager of Valpak WEEE Retail Services, points out, "the simplest way to register is on line but you can also call our helpline for assistance and advice. Valpak are also offering, free of charge, a number of seminars relating to all aspects of the WEEE directive for obligated businesses, the details of which are on our website."

Membership of the DTS will also allow retailers to meet their obligations to advertise and promote the provision of local WEEE collection points to customers. A series of marketing materials will be made available to DTS members to both assist in this process and demonstrate compliance with the regulations.