To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the definition of waste is in the context of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive; what guidance he has issued on whether electrical goods designated for repair and resale come within this definition; and if he will make a statement. (136560)

The definition of waste applied to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (WEEE) is given in article 1 (1) (a) of Directive2006/12/EU, that is

“waste shall mean any substance or object in the categories set out in Annex I which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard.”

Non-statutory guidance on the UK WEEE regulations, published in February 2007, encourages the prioritisation of the reuse of whole electrical and electronic appliances under the regulations and the forms of evidence acceptable to the environment agencies to allow producers to count the reuse of whole appliances against their notified obligations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is Government policy to promote the repair and resale of damaged electrical goods as an alternative to their disposal as waste; and if he will make a statement. (136561)

Electrical products suitable for refurbishment and reuse should be prioritised under the UK WEEE regulations. All equipment identified for legitimate reuse will be counted towards producers financial obligations provided appropriate evidence is presented to the environment agencies.

I will be establishing an independent advisory body on the operation of the UK WEEE regulations later in the year. One of the tasks of the body will be to identify and disseminate good practice across all aspects of the regulations and the supporting infrastructure. One area for consideration will be the prioritisation of environmental legitimate reuse.