Global print product manufacturer and developer HP has slammed new waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) guidelines, claiming they are "unfair" on producers.
The company argued in a report published this week that rising commodity prices have sent the value of WEEE significantly upwards in recent months and the collection costs are not being taken into consideration.
HP's head of environmental compliance Dr Kirstie McIntyre said: "This hidden and complex price setting means that whilst the actual costs of recycling have fallen, the costs charged to producers have remained the same."
She added that there is a lack of transparency between costs for producer compliance schemes and waste management companies.
Meanwhile, new EU rules regarding the proper disposal of WEEE have come under pressure from lobby groups, after ministers failed to introduce any measures for the mandatory reuse of a percentage of waste goods.
Anja French, director of communications at Computer Aid, argued the European Parliament has ignored the environmental benefits of reuse.
Posted by Helen Smith