The UK’s waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) distributor take back scheme (DTS) has launched a new stage of its project fund for local authorities.

The third phase of the DTS fund – made up of contributions from electrical retailers that do not offer in-store take back, the other method distributors can comply with the WEEE Regulations – is open to local authority (LA) projects that seek to drive up reuse of electrical appliances, increase the tonnage of separately-collected domestic WEEE for recycling, or increase the recycling rate of collected equipment.

Proposals may include developing new designated collection facilities (DCFs), or undertaking ‘special projects’ agreed by the Department for Innovation, Business & Skills (BIS) to specifically increase the collection rate of WEEE in the UK.

Project requirements

The £700,000 fund has a maximum funding cap of £100,000 on collaborative project proposals involving more than one waste disposal authority (WDA), while a maximum cap of £30,000 will apply to all other applications.

According to the DTS, projects proposed for funding must:

• be aimed at: encouraging the reuse of whole appliances; increasing the recycling rate of collected equipment; and/or increasing the tonnage of separately collected household WEEE;
• be new or additional to existing or planned activity – the funding should be used to support new projects or expand existing projects;
• seek monetary and/or in-kind contributions from partners such as producer compliance schemes, waste management companies and local reuse organisations, where possible;
• cease requirement for funding from DTS by 31 December 2016 (projects that continue beyond that date must be financed from other sources);
• produce a report within three months of the project end date; and
• be prepared to share learning and best practice experiences resulting from the project.

Applications will be considered from WDAs and waste collection authorities (WCAs), although all applications must be endorsed by a WDA with at least one publicly-accessible DCF approved by BIS.

WDAs and WCAs can only submit one application for a project covering their own area, but WDAs can submit, or be a partner in, an application for a collaborative project involving a minimum of two WDAs.

There is no limit on the number of applications from WCAs that the appropriate WDA can endorse.

The DTS handling body, Valpak, has said that applications for funding may be for ‘one-off’ events, and such projects do not necessarily have to be ongoing beyond the date that the event would take place. However, it is ‘particularly encouraging’ applicants to submit projects that are capable of being sustained after the initial project funding has expired.

BIS will manage the process of project application and selection, and has established a ‘panel of experts’ to assess all bids. It has said that there is the ‘potential for further funding towards the end of 2015’.

Projects involving commercial or industrial WEEE are not eligible for funding.

‘Developing WEEE collections for the future’

Speaking of the opening of the third phase, Alice Ellison, Environment Policy Adviser at the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said: “We are delighted to see that the distributor take back scheme is making this further round of project funding available to local authorities. The DTS has been a very positive initiative for retailers, and it is good to see that the funds are being put to good use.

“We hope that authorities will build on the imagination and initiative that many showed during the previous phase and put forward a range of proposals that will help to develop WEEE collections for the future.”

The deadline for applications is 27 February 2015.

Download further information about how to apply to the DTS.