Retail body welcomes action on online marketplace waste compliance

A leading trade association has strongly welcomed the announcement that overseas online marketplaces must now pay their share of electrical waste disposal costs, particularly highlighting its impact on the growing vaping sector.

Bira (the British Independent Retailers Association), which represents 6,000 independent retailers across the UK, says the extension of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) regulations will finally create a level playing field between high street and online sellers.

Circular economy minister Mary Creagh recently announced: "Electrical equipment like vapes are being sold in the UK by producers who are failing to pay their fair share when recycling and reusing of dealing with old or broken items.

“Today we're ending this: creating a level playing field for all producers of electronics, to ensure fairness and fund the cost of the treatment of waste electricals.

"As part of our Plan for Change, we are helping UK businesses compete and grow, and we continue to get more households recycling, cracking down on waste and ending the throwaway society."

Andrew Goodacre (pictured), CEO of Bira, said: "This marks a significant step towards fairer retail competition.

“The regulation of online marketplaces for WEEE compliance has been a particular concern in the vaping sector, where we've seen a surge in online sales without corresponding waste management responsibilities.

“These new rules will ensure all sellers contribute to the environmental costs of their products.”

The WEEE directive, which covers all items requiring batteries, solar energy, or electrical current to operate, will now require online retailers to cover disposal costs for products they place on the market.

This brings them in line with existing requirements for high street retailers who have long managed these responsibilities.

Jeff Moody, commercial director of Retra, Bira's specialist electrical retail division, added: "The vaping industry exemplifies why these regulations are needed. High street retailers have managed disposal responsibilities while online sellers haven't faced the same obligations.

“This has created an unfair advantage for online marketplaces, particularly with products like vapes that have significant environmental impact."