Appliance take-back scheme

[stix]

Does anyone know anything about the new regulations that came into effect on 1st July 2007 regarding being able to leave your old appliances at the store when you buy a new similar appliance from them?

I am about to buy a new fridge freezer from Comet and was wondering if they are obliged to take back the old appliance and if they are allowed to charge for this under the new WEEE regulations. The council want £14 to come and collect it, which seems a little steep to me!


Cheers
Steve

 

[mr]

As I understand it distributors /retailers have no obligation to accept unwanted appliances necessarily. They have to comply however with one of a couple of options. One option is that they may direct you to the local civic amenity site or tip.
However they may also choose to take up the option which means that they will accept unwanted appliances in which case this should be done free of charge.

There is more information here
http://www.amdea.org.uk/docs/GuidetoWEEEFinal.pdf
and here

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/strategy07/pdf/waste07-annex-c10.pdf

Cheers Mike

 

[Slim]

£14 to send two men and a van out to your house, pick up a fridge freezer and then drive it somewhere to dispose of it. In what way is that 'Steep'?

Do people think councils have unlimited money? If I have learnt one thing from the recent floods, it is that people think they do. The news reports I have seen of people complianing that the council haven't been to collect their damaged posestions yet, or that they are going to have to 'eat out tonight and who is going to pay for that?' Don't get me wrong, I realy feel for the peope who have been affected by the floods, but people need to help themslves before they can expect help from others.

However, £14 to get rid of a large bulky item that needs special care to dispose of it safely, and you are complaining. I think you are having a laugh mate. If you don't want to pay that totally reasonable price, get off your bum and take it to the local tip yourself! Rant over :evil:

 

[stix]

I'm not unwilling to take it to the local tip but I first wanted to find out about returning the item to the store where I'll be buying my new appliance from.

I will be borrowing a van to collect them new fridge freezer, as my car is not big enough to take it. For me to take the van to the local tip to dispose of the fridge freezer I first need to register the van with the council, which can take quite some time. I fully understand why they do this and will have no issues with going through the procedure if Comet do not offer an in-store take-back. I just thought I would see if I am able to save myself a little hassle or money first.

Steve

 

[Slim]

Steve,

I can fully understand why you would want to save yourself money, time and hassle by getting Comet to take the old apploance away, but this is not what I was taking exception to.

You said you thought £14 was steep for collecting and disposing of a fridge freezer. I just cannot understand this. How can anyone possibly think that is expensive?

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Steve

If you go to John Lewis, assuming they sell the same model, you will get free delivery, they'll take away the old fridge and price match Comet.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[Scrit]

For me to take the van to the local tip to dispose of the fridge freezer I first need to register the van with the council, which can take quite some time.

It also costs quite some money, too, wheras taking it to to waste station in a trailer circumvents this

Scrit

 

[mr]

Hmm and there was me thinking the OP wanted info on the WEEE regs while all the time he wanted a slanging match. Seems to be the way of things of late :/ - bit tedious if you ask me.
Mike

 

[Slim]

You're right Mike, Sorry.

 

[matt]

Steve

If you go to John Lewis, assuming they sell the same model, you will get free delivery, they'll take away the old fridge and price match Comet.

Cheers,
Neil

I think they charge £9 per item to take away old appliances.

 

[devonwoody]

Steve,

I can fully understand why you would want to save yourself money, time and hassle by getting Comet to take the old apploance away, but this is not what I was taking exception to.

You said you thought £14 was steep for collecting and disposing of a fridge freezer. I just cannot understand this. How can anyone possibly think that is expensive?

That amount is steep for a pensioner on state pension of £88 per week and rates he is already paying of £29 per week already.
Councillors often forget perhaps they earn £30K per year and expect the ratepaying residents are all as comfortable as themselves. My rant over.

 

[Woody Alan]

That amount is steep for a pensioner on state pension of £88 per week and rates he is already paying of £29 per week already.
Councillors often forget perhaps they earn £30K per year and expect the ratepaying residents are all as comfortable as themselves. My rant over.

Against better judgement I must respond to this ,as councils (and many other bodies) get maligned unneccessarily. My inlaws had an old fridge collected who are on the income you describe, and the council automatically waived the £14 pound fee (which I should add is for up to 3 items) . Further to that my mother has just done the same thing and the council waived the fee.
This is NOT a rant but by way of balance.

Cheers Alan

 

[stix]

I have spoken to Comet who will take my old fridge freezer from me when I purchase the new item from them. This means that I don't need to register the van with the council and the cost of recycling is the responsibility of the manufacturer/distributor and not the council.

I think that the councils fee of £14 does not actively encourage recylcling or the correct disposal of electrical appliances, which is probably the reason why there are so many of them dumped along the nearby canals and rear access ways.


Steve

 

[devonwoody]

Everybody is now happy

Mind you Comet are charging you to dispose of your old fridge, it would be cheaper to sell you a new one if they didnt take the old one back

 

[Slim]

Stix, check your PM's

 

[mr]

I think that the councils fee of £14 does not actively encourage recylcling or the correct disposal of electrical appliances, which is probably the reason why there are so many of them dumped along the nearby canals and rear access ways.


Steve

I suspect that's as much to do with laziness as cost.

Cheers Mike

 

[devonwoody]

I lived in the Reading area 40 years ago and the soil was very sandy, one of my neighbours dug a large hole and buried his scrap motor car. Well I think he did, I wonder if I ought to tell the local constabularly.( in fact my neighbour had a firearm as well) ummmmmmmmmm.

 

[mr]

( in fact my neighbour had a firearm as well) ummmmmmmmmm.

Was that illegal 40 years ago? I presume it was licensed...
Cheers Mike

 

[Woody Alan]

Was that illegal 40 years ago?

I belive so as there was a gun amnesty in 1965

Alan

 

[devonwoody]

Yes he had licenses for two pistols, just wondering if the car was the only thing that went down the hole. :roll: