Computer Remarketing Services

Skip to Main Content »

Buy On-line or call 01908 656700 ::

You are currently on:

Weee icon Hazardous waste electrical and electronic equipment illegally exported from Cumbria to Hong Kong

Sinoway International Limited has been fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £2,700 in costs after pleading guilty at Workington Magistrates Court to illegally exporting waste electrical and electronic equipment to Hong Kong.

On the 20 November 2009 the Environment Agency received from the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department information regarding a suspected illegal shipment of hazardous waste from the UK The container had been inspected and opened on landing and was found to contain items of waste electrical equipment including several hundred computer monitors. These are classed as hazardous waste due to the nature of some components.

Documents found within the container indicated that Sinoway had exported the waste from Cumbria Recycling Limited in Workington to Hong Kong in September 2009. Environment Agency officers contacted Sinoway and Sinoway arranged for the waste to be returned immediately to the UK.

When the container was returned to the UK in December 2009. Environment officers inspected the container and found a number of items of waste electrical items including cables, monitors, base units, components and wires. Officers found the contents to be poorly packed and some items were visibly damaged.

Cumbria Recycling Ltd operate by collecting WEEE from civic amenity sites in Cumbria. The WEEE is then brought to their site for refurbishment or repair. Any items of WEEE that are deemed beyond repair are sent for reprocessing.

Many of the items within the container were considered to be beyond repair by Cumbria Recycling Ltd, but instead of the waste being sent for reprocessing in the UK, it was sold to Sinoway. Cumbria Recycling Ltd stated that Sinoway were fully aware that the goods were hazardous waste.

Cumbria Recycling Ltd paid for the entire contents of the container to be sent for reprocessing at a suitable facility in the UK once it had been returned to Cumbria.

Cumbria Recycling Ltd accepted that they were involved in the illegal export, by selling the waste to Sinoway and loading the waste into the container.  After the container had been returned to their site, they paid for the waste to be reprocessed at a suitably permitted facility in the UK.  They received a formal caution from the Environment Agency due to their role in the illegal export .

Steve Johnston, Environment Officer for the Environment Agency said,

" Sinoway International Ltd exported a container of WEEE, including hazardous waste, destined for Hong Kong or China. Such an export of waste isn’t allowed under waste regulations. The Environment Agency will continue to take enforcement action against such offenders.

If the container had not been detained in Hong Kong and returned to the UK, there is a significant risk that the waste in the container would have been mishandled or tipped causing environmental harm. "

20 Jul 2010 by Administrator in Weee

New Look Website
CRS is now sporting a new look website with the emphasis in our refurbished products. Products now show more information and include options for upgrades to hardware and software. We are also highlighting a range of high-end PC and Laptops that have been sourced from Dell and HP.

CRS UK Website 

14 Oct 2009 by Administrator in Shopping, CRS-UK

CRS UK are a Dell Approved Partner
Computer Remarketing Services are pleased to formalise our relationship with Dell and have become a Dell Approved Partner. We have in the past had Dell equipment from the Dell Outlet Division but this will make more of the other Product available - New Dell PC and Laptops. This will open up opportunities for sale of the latest models of new PC's and cutting edge up to the minute Laptops with full Dell support and warranty at competitive prices.
Dell PC and Laptops new and used
20 May 2009 by Administrator in Shopping, CRS-UK

Appointments to the new WEEE Advisory Board (WAB)
One of the new Members is our own Terry Maguire.
  2007/115
3 December 2007

Malcolm Wicks, Minister for Energy, has announced the appointment of the Chair, Peter Calliafas, and 12 members of a new WEEE Advisory Body (WAB), a public body established to provide advice to Government on the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and the UK WEEE Regulations.


Mr Wicks said:       “More and more electrical goods are being thrown out each year, with around two million tonnes in the UK alone. The Government is committed to ensure that more of this waste is recycled, and not just consigned to the scrap heap.
      “Since the UK adopted the WEEE directive a great deal has been achieved, by making sure more waste is collected for treatment and recovery. The establishment of the advisory body will ensure we receive expert advice and to help us build on this initial success. And I very much look forward to working with them in the future.”

WAB Chairman Peter Calliafas said:
      I feel immensely honoured and excited to have been appointed to this advisory body as its Chair. There are likely to be both opportunities and challenges in our journey ahead. As such, I am looking forward to meeting my fellow colleagues in the very near future and to building an effective and action orientated team that is focused on the priority objectives. Of equal importance to me personally, is to gain an early understanding of the successes and the relevant issues in the WEEE sector. In my view, there is only one way to achieve this and that is through engagement with all stakeholders and visits to key sites in order to appreciate the operational processes first hand.
The WAB members bring with them a wealth of experience and expertise in their respective fields.

In addition to the Chair, membership of the Board is as follows:- 

  • Terry Maguire – Chairman & Managing Director, Computer Remarketing Services

  • Julie-Ann Adams - Joint Managing Director, M Baker Recycling Ltd 

  • Joy Boyce – Head of Corporate Environmental Affairs, Fujitsu Services 

  • Phil Conran – General Manager Recycling Development, BIFFA Waste Services 

  • Jonathan Gorman – Regulatory Policy Manager, Tesco Stores 

  • Gary Griffiths – Environmental & Quality Systems Manager, RDC 

  • John Holbrow – non-executive Chairman, Pollution Monitors Ltd 

  • Leigh Holloway – Environmental Consultant, eco3 

  • Kirstie McIntyre – Environmental Takeback Compliance Manager, Hewlett Packard 

  • John Morrell – Environmental consultant, Oakdene Hollins 

  • Philip Morton – Chief Executive Officer, REPIC 

  • Mark Shelton – Waste Promotions Manager, Donarbon Waste Management

06 Dec 2007 by Administrator in CRS-UK, Weee

Weee icon Environment Agency approval

We are pleased to confirm that CRS was registered as an Approved Authorised Treatment Facility (AATF) by the Environment Agency on 9th July 2007 Approval Number WEE/HF0003ZS/ATF.

Under the new regulations introduced in the Summer only Authorised Treatment Facilities registered with the Environment Agency are permitted to manage the disposal of electronic equipment.

The new regulations are very complex and vary according to the type of equipment, when purchased and in the case of business whether being replaced on a "like for like" basis. In addition for business users the commercial terms agreed with the original supplier will also have a bearing.

If you need advice please call.

25 Oct 2007 by Administrator in Weee

<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next >>


Content Management Powered by CuteNews