Calls For Non-Compliance By Online Retailers To Be Addressed In Waste Directive

Three leading European trade associations have written an open letter to the European Commission, calling for action to tackle non-compliance with waste legislation, of sales through online retailers. The letter is co-signed by EucoLight, the WEEE Forum, and EXPRA.

The letter draws attention to high levels of non-compliance through online retailers and fulfilment houses with Extended Producer Responsibility legislation, particularly WEEE.

Welcoming the joint letter, Nigel Harvey, a director of EucoLight and also CEO of lighting WEEE scheme Recolight said “Non-compliance damages legitimate companies by putting them at a competitive disadvantage. It also undermines the sustainable financing of waste collection and recycling.”

He added “The best way to tackle this problem is to make online sellers and fulfilment houses legally required to take on the duties of producer under EPR legislation for the product they sell or stock on behalf of non-compliant companies.”