HC Deb 30 October 2003 vol 412 c351W
Mr. Simon Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sites there are in(a) the UK and (b) Wales where printer cartridges are recycled. [134714]

Mr. Timms

The Department does not hold this information, however, the UK Cartridge Remanufacturers Association report that there are over 100 remanufacturers in the UK. The Cartridge World refilling franchise has 174 branches in the UK, four of which are in Wales.

Mr. Simon Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of whether Article 4 of the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment Directive(a) applies to the manufacturing of anti-reuse devices such as printer cartridges with clever chip technology and (b) will encourage manufacturers to design reusable cartridges. [134715]

Mr. Timms

The WEEE Directive applies to whole electrical and electronic products, not to individual components, sub-assemblies or consumables. Printer cartridges fall into this latter category.

The Government are currently planning UK implementation of the WEEE Directive, with the aim of publishing detailed proposals later this autumn for consultation. This will include consideration of reuse issues.