Industry Specific Guidance

WEEE Challenges

Companies impacted by the WEEE Regulations include manufactures and importers of commercial catering equipment covering the following broad areas:

• Bar Equipment
• Refrigeration
• Prime Cooking Equipment
• Beverage Equipment
• Ware Washing Equipment
• Food Preparation Equipment
• Counters and Serveries

Scope issues - Commercial catering equipment was not originally included in the scope of the draft WEEE directive and so it was initially thought that it would fall outside the scope of the UK WEEE Regulations. Catering equipment, however, has been included and falls within scope under Categories 1 (Large Household Appliances) & 2 (Small Household Appliances) – albeit from a non-household aspect.

High collection costs - Producers are obligated to finance the collection & recycling of whole appliances, not solely the electronic component or parts of the appliance. This presents the commercial catering sector with a disadvantage. This type of equipment is designed and manufactured for a long life in a professional high use environment, is predominantly metal based and usually has a small proportion of electrical and electronic components. The heavy duty nature of commercial catering equipment means that collection costs from final-users would be comparatively high.

 

B2B Compliance Solutions

At its end-of-life, commercial catering equipment has a high residual value in the scrap market due to the high proportion of stainless steel in its construction. B2B Compliance ensures that this value is utilised. Our good working relationship with recycling operators enables us to off-set the costs of collection with the value that is obtained from the scrap metal, lowering costs for our members.

B2B Compliance has introduced innovative approaches that allow catering equipment producers to minimise the impact of WEEE on their businesses. This has been recognised by the Catering Equipment Suppliers Association CESA who is an active supporter of B2B Compliance and has, on several occasions, run seminars specifically covering these issues, with B2B Compliance as a speaker.

"CESA has been active in its discussions with the UK Government and also with the European commission in trying to help define the scope of the directive. Electrically energised commercial kitchen equipment is seen to perform the same function as household equipment and therefore is considered by BERR to be in scope. This may not be the interpretation in other European Countries, a point that is actively being represented by the European Catering Equipment Manufacturers Association (EFCEM) of which CESA is a member. This disparity is against the principal of the single market and is a cause of significant problems for companies distributing throughout Europe. CESA is pleased to be working with B2B Compliance in conjunction with its members in order to provide clarity in the area of compliance and solutions to the treatment of WEEE for final-users of equipment"

Keith Warren of CESA

CESA is the largest, longest established and most influential trade association active in the UK foodservice equipment industry today. CESA’s current 133 strong membership represents an impressive list of the industry's best known companies, from the small independent firms with specialised equipment lines, to the major league global players geared for entire kitchen installations. Their common link is an aim to serve the hospitality industry in the most dynamic and responsible way.