Coming soon to all UK Communities
We are pleased to inform our readers that EEESafe has been invited to talks with the Local Government Association. We have been invited to discuss the opportunities and barriers that we perceive in this sector.
The LGA which represents 412 local authorities across England and Wales, has stated the amount of material currently reused by councils is 165,000 tonnes or an estimated 1% of household waste. LGA says there is potential to increase this through the 149,000 tonnes of electrical product waste and the vast majority of the 1.4 million tonnes of textiles, and 165,000 tonnes of furniture that are disposed of each year.
The LGA set up a Reuse Commission in response to recommendations in the Wealth from Waste report earlier this year which suggests Local Authorities could earn an extra £1Billion from waste by 2020.
EEESafe, also representing the Trade Association have concerns about the unregulated repairs of White Goods in the market place. As we recently recommended to DEFRA and WRAP any work the Commission recommends or undertakes should come under a Regulated Register like Gas Safe which is now in place with the EEESafe DAT & DAR certifications for Competent Persons.
As the law stands, anyone can repair Appliances and with 350,000 serious electrical accidents each year and the fact that tenants in Scotland being 7 times more likely to experience a house fire (compared to homeowners), the public should be wary of who repairs their appliances. EEESafe will give some assurance to consumers as a brand that will not only be known for Safe Repairs from Competent People designed and supported by the Trade, but it will also represent retention of older appliances in the local community linked to an Accredited Qualification delivered in the local community.
We hope that these discussions will alert the Local Authorities that you should NOT let anyone charging for repairs or refurbished appliances, operate without being regulated by a Trade Supported standard.
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