Press Release and Case Studies from CRS Computer Remarketing Services (UK)

WEEE ADVISORY BODY (WAB) includes CRS MD Terry Maguire	06-12-2007 11:55:12 AM
2007/115 3 December 2007 APPOINTMENTS TO THE NEW WEEE ADVISORY BODY (WAB) 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 Notes To Editors 1. The WEEE Advisory Body has been established to provide independent advice on the development of the WEEE system following the implementation of the WEEE Directive in the UK and the introduction of producer responsibility on the 1 July 2007. The WEEE Directive has significant effects on producers, distributors and users of electrical equipment, as well as the waste management sector. The WEEE Advisory Body’s advice will be an important contribution to the development of policy in relation to these issues. 2. Appointments have been made in accordance with the requirements of the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Gary Griffiths and Mark Shelton declared their roles as parish councillors, and Gary Griffiths additionally declared that he had stood as a Labour Party candidate in a local council election. 3. The appointments are for between two and three years and were effective from 1 December 2007. Members are appointed on an independent basis to represent particular areas/fields of expertise and experience relevant to the WEEE Regulations, rather than as delegates of particular organisations or interest groups. The post of Chair is paid an honorarium of £5,000 per annum. The members appointments are unpaid, but members will receive travel and subsistence expenses in respect of their appointment. 4. Biographical details i) Chair - Peter Calliafas Peter Calliafas’ experience spans the environmental, technology and banking sectors. He is currently the Non Executive Chairman of Envirobusiness South East Ltd and was appointed at the time of its formation in 2005. Until recently, he was also an executive director of Tetronics Ltd, an established plasma arc technology company based near Swindon. Peter has chaired Defra’s New Technologies Advisory Committee and remains a member of this committee. He is a member of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management and of their audit committee. Prior to entering the industry in 2004, he was a career banker with Barclays Bank PLC. In 2001, the growth potential of the environmental sector was identified by the bank and Peter was asked to lead on the development of the market proposition. He was subsequently appointed Head of their Environmental Services Team, a team that specialised in looking after the financial needs of companies operating in the waste and renewable energy sectors. Whilst at Barclays, he was one of the banking representatives on the DTI Renewable Advisory Board – Finance and Working Group. He has also presented to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee on whether the UK would meet its 2010 renewable energy target. Members ii) Julie-Ann Adams - Joint Managing Director, M Baker Recycling Ltd Julie-Ann Adams has more than 15 years experience in local government and the waste management sector. In her current role at M Baker Recycling, a specialist WEEE treatment facility she has established working relationships with a number of WEEE stakeholders – local authorities, producer compliance schemes and other treatment facilities. She is a member of ICER (Industry Council for Electronics Recycling) and CIWM (Chartered Institute of Waste Management) iii) The Rev’d Joy Boyce – Head of Corporate Environmental Affairs, Fujitsu Services Joy Boyce was appointed ICL’s first corporate environmental affairs manager in 1993 and was made responsible for ICL’s environmental programme worldwide. With 20 years experience in the IT industry, she has held positions in marketing, public relations and strategic development functions and spent several years as a director in a consultancy practice. She is Chairman of ICER and Chair of Intellect UK’s Environmental Policy Committee. She also sits on the environmental policy committee of EICTA (The European Electronics Information and Communications Technology Association). iv) Phil Conran – General Manager for Market and Service Development, BIFFA Waste Services At BIFFA Waste Services Phil Conran is responsible for the strategic development of solutions for industrial/commercial customers to meet environmental legislative pressures. He developed the Biffpack Packaging Compliance scheme and has been a member of the Government’s Advisory Committee on Packaging for the past 6 years, where he is currently vice Chairman and Chairman of the Data Task Force. He has been closely involved with the development of the WEEE Regulations and is responsible for the development and implementation of the Biffa Transform WEEE Producer Compliance Scheme. v) Jonathan Gorman – Regulatory Policy Manager, Tesco Stores As Regulatory Policy Manager on environment issues for Tesco Stores Jonathan has been involved in WEEE throughout the period of implementation into UK law. He has built up considerable experience of implementation issues both as a producer and a distributor. He was closely involved in the development of the Distributor Takeback Scheme alongside other members of the British Retail Consortium. vi) Gary Griffiths – Environmental & Quality Systems Manager, RDC Gary Griffiths has over fifteen years practical experience of working with waste electrical and electronic equipment. Gary’s experience includes working as both a buyer and supplier of waste management and recycling services and he has advised the EC & UK Governments on WEEE. vii) John Holbrow – non-executive Chairman, Pollution Monitors Ltd John Holbrow has wide experience of the electronics industry, working in various positions from engineer to managing director in both large and small businesses. He is Chairman of the Environmental Policy Unit for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), a member of the BREW Steering Group for DEFRA, and the National Fly-tipping Forum and the NET REGS Steering Group for the Environment Agency. viii) Dr Leigh Holloway – Environmental Consultant, eco3 Leigh Holloway is an environmental and sustainability consultant specialising in eco-design and producer responsibility, and an adviser on the Government funded Envirowise Helpline which gives impartial advice to UK companies on environmental issues. His wide-ranging work on the WEEE Regulations has brought him into contact with the whole range of stakeholders affected by the WEEE Regulations. ix) Terry Maguire – Chairman & Managing Director Computer Remarketing Services Terry Maguire has over 30 year’s experience of the I.T. industry. He has worked in various senior commercial positions within the sector including roles at ICL, Wang, and Dowty Communications. In the late 1990’s Terry was retained by Ernst & Young and tasked with liquidating the UK assets of Commodore Business Machines which sparked his interest in computer re-marketing and re-use. x) Dr Kirstie McIntyre – Environmental Takeback Compliance Manager, Hewlett Packard Kirstie McIntyre has more than ten years experience in process improvements and change management, having worked for a number of years in the strategic development of end-of-life programmes for various companies in the electronics sector. She has an engineering doctorate in environmental technology and has published widely on sustainability and supply chain issues. xi) John Morrell – Environmental consultant, Oakdene Hollins John Morrell has been working in the refurbishment, repair and recycling industry since 1979. He is chair of an environment group of all the major photocopier companies, chair of a parliamentary club designed to bring industry and government together, and an ICER member. xii) Dr Philip Morton – Chief Executive Officer, REPIC Philip Morton was appointed to his current role as Chief Executive Officer of the Producer Compliance Scheme, REPIC in April 2004. From 2000 until 2004 he was at Cleanaway UK Ltd, an international waste management company, as Managing Director of the Technical Waste Division and Main Board Director of Cleanaway UK Limited. During this time, he was one of 16 worldwide members of the United Nations Environmental Protection Task Force, the TEAP task force, investigating ozone depleting substances. He spent the first 20 years of his career in senior roles in the Chemical Industry. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts a member of the Institute of Directors and member of the Chartered Institute of Waste Management. xiii) Mark Shelton – Waste Promotions Manager, Donarbon Waste Management Mark has 18 years experience of the waste management industry from collection to separation and disposal. In the last 10 years as Waste Policy Manager for Cambridgeshire County Council, and previously as Recycling Officer for Cambridge City Council, he has been involved in a wide range of awareness raising and practical initiatives. He was lead officer in letting the County Council’s fridge/freezer collection and treatment contract when the ODS Regulations were implemented, and has worked with colleagues to ensure that all of the council’s civic amenity sites are Designated Collection Facilities for WEEE. He is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Waste Management.
CRS GIVES COMPANIES PEACE OF MIND ON THE PUNITIVE WEEE DIRECTIVE	12-10-2007 11:19:47 AM
Leading electronic recycling company Computer Remarketing Services (CRS) has launched a Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) consultation service for businesses concerned at the strict Europe-wide legislative burden which comes into force in July 2007 and which can lead to unlimited fines for company directors; even criminal prosecutions. The imminent legislation has left many businesses confused as to what their responsibilities will be when disposing of surplus electronic equipment, and current guidelines show that it will affect not only manufacturers but all importers, distributors, retailers, re-sellers and the end-users, even those who may reasonably believe that they’ve complied with the law. Here are some points to be aware of concerning the WEEE Directive: Courts can issue unlimited fines and individuals can be criminally prosecuted The business user will be held accountable if WEEE is not managed correctly The Environment Agency and DEFRA will pursue the person who last used the equipment not just the person who carried out any illegal dumping The government’s approach has been that business users will know what to do when it comes to compliance i.e. organisations should know how to interpret the regulations and therefore do whatever is right In order to satisfy that last point and give directors of any company which uses I.T. equipment peace of mind; CRS’ new service will provide companies with simple, free-of-charge digestible information on the WEEE Directive. As part of this service businesses will be able to gain access to updated information through the CRS website or subscribe to a free newsletter for regular updates. For those that need more (chargeable) in-depth information an initial telephone consultation is offered and for those that want to outsource their ‘WEEE’ needs to CRS a subsequent visit will be scheduled. Terry Maguire, Managing Director of CRS feels that, “more should be done by the government to ensure that companies really appreciate the implications of the WEEE Directive. It is great to encourage re-use but it is imperative that everyone understands the basics of the scheme to ensure that businesses here do not face the kind of unprecedented court-imposed fines recently levied on Boots Retail (Ireland), where the scheme has been in place for a year”. CRS’ WEEE consultation service is available to all companies who register on www.crs-uk.biz. CRS has in-depth knowledge and business expertise gained through working in the I.T. remarketing and recycling industry for over 27 years. CRS regularly attends and contributes to the Industry Council for Electronic Equipment Recycling (ICER) meeting on the WEEE legislation, and the WEEE Advisory Group (WAG) meetings along with the DTI and Defra.
The Cost of I.T. Repairs takes a dive.	01-09-2007 11:18:03 AM
The cost of I.T. repairs can be like jumping into a big black hole with the price of parts and labour mounting up, and before you know it you could have bought a new PC! A new service launched today by Computer Remarketing Services (CRS) will take the uncertainty of escalating costs away from directors of SME’s as it brings a new fixed fee PC repair service to the market. CRS is well known for its work in remarketing and recycling I.T. equipment as well as encouraging computer re-use, but in a continued plan to grow its business the company is putting its unprecedented I.T. knowledge to further use which will benefit many businesses. This new service is different to what is on offer from other companies as CRS’ customers will know exactly what they are paying for. The package includes diagnostics, a virus check, repair of defects caused by fair wear and tear, re-loading the operating system, return of the PC after repair by next business day service along with a statement of work carried out. The customer can decide to send their PC’s to CRS themselves or upgrade to a dedicated collection service. The price of this service is extremely competitive and with CRS holding ISO9001-2000 quality standard approval from the British Standards Institute, you can rest assured that you are in safe hands. Prices are inclusive of parts and labour. PC £69.00 Laptop £89.00 TFT screen £49.00 Additional bolt-on services are available, which include repairing accidental damage and data recovery.