A much-delayed law that makes British producers and importers of electronic goods responsible for the recycling of their products has come into force.

Yesterday, a new EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive came into force, requiring 4kg of "e-waste" to be recycled per person each year.

Manufacturers have to fund recycling schemes, while retailers must offer take-back services to customers.

E-waste, which includes PCs, games consoles, microwaves, washing machines and mobile phones is the fastest-growing form of waste in the European Union.

The UK produces an estimated 1.2m tonnes of e-waste each year, most of which has been ending up in landfill sites.

SBC member company, Redeem plc is welcoming the new regulations. As an international market leader in the recovery, reuse and recycling of empty printer cartridges and used mobile and cell phones the new legislations will have a positive impact on their business as well as the environment.  Redeem provides WEEE compliant recovery programmes for mobile phones, one of the products covered under the new regulations

 “I think this is a great piece of legislation” said Jamie Rae, Chief Executive of Redeem, “E-waste is an ecological problem with serious consequences.  Even small items such as mobile phones can have a hugely damaging effect on the environment so any regulations which increase recycling rates and reduce waste going to landfill are good news for climate change. Many organisations perceive the organisation of such a programme as being time consuming and difficult but we can make it easy for them.”

For more information on the services Redeem can offer, visit www.redeemplc.com

To find out how you can recycle all other types of electrical and electronic equipment in Scotland visit www.sort-it.org.uk.