Scrap Metal 'Black Market'

In a similar vein, the Computer Recycling industry has been found by employees of IT-Green to be fraught with un-scrupulous traders, willing to offer their services as recyclers, but plying their trade in anything other than a legitimate manner.

This was highlighted by Richard Johnson of IT-Green who stated: "One business that used our services- to rectify an incident- had been left open to prosecution by a rogue trader who offered his services in the knowledge that the company had no knowledge of the UK's legislation surrounding recycling of IT equipment. Although the service he provided was free, he simply fly-tipped the CRT screens, a hazardous waste that could have cost a fortune to clean up."

Similar issues arise as a result of data protection. Offering a recycling service that isn't licenced by the Environment Agency implies that the trader simply does not care about the customer enough to protect valuable information on the computers. The producer of the waste (customer) could be left open to prosecution under the data protection act.

There are a number of simple rules that should be adhered to in order to achieve compliance with the UK's law. These include using a registered waste carrier or waste management plant to dispose of the hardware. Companies that are registered under an ISO scheme such as ISO14001 (Environmental standards) must obtain duty of care and hazardous waste consignment notices from the recycler. Similarly, it's important that businesses disposing of polluting computer waste have registered their premises for the production of hazardous waste (CRT screens, TFTs, laptops and Universal Power supplies).

In effect, the Environment Agency has powers to prosecute and in the eyes of the law, the duty of care lies with the original owner of the equipment.