Packaging waste, WEEE and producer responsibility
The principle of ‘producer responsibility’ is also evident in recent legislation which requires manufacturers to bear responsibility for the environmentally sound disposal of their products at the end of their lifespan. The Packaging Waste Regulations 2007, the WEEE (Waste Electronics and Electrical Equipment) Directive 2007 and the forthcoming Batteries Directive all require manufacturers to make arrangements for the appropriate disposal of their products, even though they have been sold on many times.
Waste legislation is being driven by the European Union Directives and is increasingly based on the principle that if you bring a product to market, you must also make adequate provision for the disposal of both the original product and its associated packaging.