Waste electrical and electronic equipment reform consultation: equalities impact assessment

Policy context

The proposed changes interact with and align to a variety of other Scottish, UK, and European policies (draft or existing) including, but not limited to:

• Scottish Government National Performance Framework
• Scottish Climate Change Policy
• Making Things Last: A Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland
• Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 (as amended)
• Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)
• The Management and Treatment of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) within Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and other materials
• A mandatory digital waste tracking service
• The European Union (EU)’s Circular Economy Package 2018
• The European Union (EU)’s Circular Economy Action Plan, 2020

  European Commission’s establishment of Right to Repair

• UN Sustainable Development Goals

About the EQIA

The EQIA considers impacts on equalities groups based on the three tests that it is required to address:

• Does this policy eliminate discrimination for each of the nine protected characteristics (PCs^[6]). If not, is the discrimination justifiable? Can it be mitigated?
• Does this policy advance equality of opportunity for PC groups?
• Does this policy foster good community relations between people of PC groups?

A policy measure may positively impact on one or more of the protected characteristics, while having a disproportionately negative impact on others. Where any negative impacts are identified, we seek to mitigate or eliminate these. The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) is not just about addressing negative impacts, as we also have a positive duty to promote equality.