Waste electrical and electronic equipment reform consultation: equalities impact assessment

Executive Summary

This Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA) has been carried out to identify potential impacts in Scotland resulting from the introduction of reforms to the extended producer responsibility (EPR) system for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). This EQIA accompanies a Consultation on policy proposals and a separate and accompanying Call for Evidence which contains further options for future development. Although the proposals in these documents are at an early stage, given the importance of assessing their impact on each of the protected characteristics, the Scottish Government has considered the proposals against the needs of the Public Sector General Equality Duty as set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 ^[1]and has considered whether the measures could constitute direct and/or indirect discrimination.

This EQIA has considered the potential positive and negative impacts of introducing reforms to the WEEE PR system on each of the protected characteristics. At this time, age, disability and race have been identified as characteristics that may be differenitally impacted. The provisions, and how they may impact on people, across the protected characteristics are set out under Key Findings. As the proposed changes to the WEEE PR schemeare intended to have a positive impact on the environment and improve the ease with which people can return WEEE items to be recycled or reused, the EQIA has not identified any proposal which would have a direct negative impact on any of the protected characteristic groups. The evidence gathered and reviewed indicates that overall, the proposed WEEE Extended Producer Responsiblity (EPR) scheme will have a positive impact on equality by providing greater access to services and inclusive communications. Therefore, it is not considered that any changes to the proposals listed in the consultation document should be made because of the assessment at this stage.

However, this EQIA has identified a small number of potential indirect impacts which should be considered in the implementation of any changes to the WEEE PR system.