The Industry Council for Electronic Equipment Recycling (ICER) has launched a comprehensive scheme to help waste electrical recyclers and Producer Compliance Schemes decarbonise their operations.
The ICER scheme is specific to the electricals recycling industry and has been developed by a working group drawn from treatment operators, producer compliance schemes and experts in carbon reduction. It involves a straightforward self-assessment process against 23 criteria covering company policies, logistics and treatment operations. Each criterion has four levels of achievement – beginning, improving, advancing and excelling.
Collectively, the criteria provide a way in which waste electrical recyclers and compliance schemes can get started on the ladder towards carbon reduction, assess the steps they have taken so far and identify the best way forward. The self- assessment process will be verified by Climate Action for Associations (CAFA) an independent third party with acknowledged expertise in carbon accounting.
Commenting on the news, ICER Director Claire Snow said: “It has been really encouraging to see waste electricals recyclers and producer compliance schemes come together to develop this initiative. It has gone through a robust review and validation process. We are pleased to be working with CAFA to ensure third party oversight of the self-assessment process. We are now inviting everyone in the sector to sign up to use the system.”
One of the working group members, Nigel Harvey, CEO of Recolight, said: “The specification has been designed to accommodate companies that are well on the path to decarbonising, as well as those that are just starting out. It has also been through an extensive process of review and consultation. We hope that this means that as many companies as possible will be able to use the system. This scheme will help everyone in the industry to play their part to tackle climate change by decarbonising their operations.”
Development of the specification and of the third-party assessment scheme has been underpinned by financial support from the “Compliance Fee Fund” administered by Material Focus. Executive Director Scott Butler said: “We are happy to be able to support this initiative that will encourage waste electrical recyclers and producer compliance schemes to better understand their carbon impacts and plan to make improvements in coming months and years.”
The scheme is open to all approved operators in the WEEE industry. Those wishing to take part should contact carbonreduction@icer.org.uk
