EU waste directives could cause a repeat of the fridge mountain crisis unless more thought is given to the implementation of future recycling legislation, the Better Regulation Task Force has warned.

A spokesman for the DTI told ePolitix.com: ""We welcome contributions to the ongoing consultation on how best to implement the requirements of the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment and End of Life Vehicle Directives.

"We will consider the Better Regulation Task Force reoprt and respond in due course."

Forum Response: Biffa

Peter Jones, external affairs director of Biffa, told ePolitix.com: "Two and a half years before the fridge fiasco Biffa warned government on the pre-conditions necessary for introducing environmental legislation in an integrated, co-ordinated fashion.

"Our correspondence and proposals are on the public record as part of the the evidence Biffa gave to the House of Commons Select Committee and the recent recommendations from the Better Regulations Taskforce bear an uncanny resemblance to it.

"We wholly support the BRTF suggestions and would add that if something does not happen originating at ministerial level to coordinate the issues of planning, investment incentives, operating standards and economics between Defra, The Treasury and the DTI then we will be faced with mayhem from July next year.

"Ironically some of the first casualties could be the battery and aluminium recycling sectors. Currently faced with nowhere to take by-products and slag arisings from these vital recycling sectors, we in the waste industry are being passed from pillar to post between middle ranking beauracrats who seem to lack any awareness of the need for interaction between them if we are to meet the Directive deadlines to which we have signed up. This despite recent pronouncements in the latest Defra strategy.

"The waste industry needs to know who is going to pay? What are the necessary plant operation standards? Will there be a level playing field in enforcement?

"This debate is now independent of the parallel need to tax landfill at levels which match alternative process technologies - the Directive will lead to waste products having to be stockpiled.

"This should make life interesting from warehouse rental rates, but won't do anything to move the environmental debate forward one jot."

Forum Response: British Retail Consortium

Bill Moyes, director general of the British Retail Consortium, told ePolitix.com: "Retailers simply do not have the capacity to store and dispose of used appliances, an issue we raised with the Government for more than two years.

"At that time the country was over-run by 'Fridge Mountains' and there is no evidence that ministers are prepared for the potential toaster, television and hairdryer mountains that will appear when the WEEE regulation hits the UK.

"The Better Regulation Task Force report is a final warning and any further delay in issuing guidance to retailers will be disastrous for stores and their customers."

Forum Response: Construction Products Association

Rita Singh, policy development executive at the CPA, told ePolitix.com: "The Association welcomes the Better Regulation Task Force's timely report recommending government to take action if it is to meet the targets coming out of the WEEE and ELV Directives.

"In particular, the report rightly recommends that the Government adopt a project planning approach and publish project implementation plans for new legislation.

"Industry is too often faced with new legislation that does not reflect the government's stated policy objectives. Increasing industry participation during the early stages of developing legislation can help companies to understand the key proposals of the policy. It will also help to create market demand early on for products that meet with the new requirements.

"Businesses are keen to work with government on waste related legislation to avoid past mistakes of inconsistent, un-integrated and non-strategic development and implementation of new policy."