HC Deb 23 March 2004 vol 419 cc693-4W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on discussions between her Department and the Department of Trade and Industry on(a) effects on the environment of future computer production and (b) who should pay the costs of environmental effects. [160815]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 16 March 2004]: Defra work closely with the DTI, who lead on the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), and the Restriction of the use of Certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) Directives. These Directives are producer responsibility Directives, and aim to reduce the environmental impact of all electronic equipment, including computers. The environmental impact is reduced by restricting the use of hazardous substances during manufacture; and through reprocessing WEEE, so that materials can be returned to the economic cycle and avoid being landfilled. The WEEE Directive also aims to assign financial responsibility, for the collection, treatment and recycling of WEEE, to producers and business users, when a computer reaches its end of its life.

In addition, both Defra and DTI are currently negotiating two other Directives that will have a positive effect on the environmental impact of computers. Batteries are a significant component of laptop computers, and the proposed Batteries Directive will make producers of batteries responsible for their collection and recycling.

Similarly the proposed Eco design for Energy using Products (EuP) Directive will ensure that producers take responsibility for the whole life cycle of their products, from the initial design stage, right through to end of life and disposal. Defra, via the Market Transformation Programme, has also been working with the DTI, among others, to seek to reduce the energy consumption of IT equipment in use. Current measures include the EU Energy Star Regulation and the Government Quick wins initiative which specifies minimum standards for government procurement of IT equipment.