Consultation outcome

Producer Compliance Scheme Balancing System (PBS)

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 5 May 2022
• Last updated: 8 August 2022 — See all updates

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

This consultation has concluded

Detail of outcome

The government has approved the proposal for a new Producer Compliance Scheme Balancing System (PBS). This took effect from 19 July 2022.

Seven changes have been made:

1. Producer compliance schemes (PCSs) can more easily view information on PBS contracts, via:
   • a new summary page in the PCS portal, which will show all existing contracts and end dates
   • automatic email notifications, which will alert all PCSs 30 days before a local authority PBS contract ends
2. Stage 1 of the bidding process will be extended to 5 days, overlapping with Stage 2.
3. Designated Collection Facility information packs will be produced in a standard format by the current PCS and approved by the local authority. These will be available to all PCSs when a Regulation 34 request is notified.
4. As well as bidding for single categories of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), PCSs can now submit linked bids. These are based upon winning all WEEE categories specified as part of that bid.
5. There will be a new extraordinary price review mechanism, which can be triggered following significant legislative or treatment requirement changes.
6. Local authorities can change their PCS provider at any time, subject to any contractual terms. Alternatively, when making a Regulation 34 request, local authorities can indicate that they will voluntarily enter into a fixed-term contract with the PBS winning bidder.
7. When replacing a Regulation 34 contract, the transition period (the date the winning bidder is informed to the date skips are changed over) can be extended to a maximum of 15 days. Both the new and outgoing PCS must agree to this.

Detail of feedback received

We received 13 responses to this consultation from:

• 6 producer compliance schemes (PCSs)
• 2 local authorities
• 1 approved authorised treatment facility
• 1 trade association
• 3 anonymous responders

Eleven respondents were in favour of the proposal for a new Producer Compliance Scheme Balancing System. Two respondents were not in favour.

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Original consultation

Summary

Seeking views on a proposal from WEEE Scheme Forum (WSF) to continue operation of the existing PBS with some detailed modifications.

This consultation was held on another website.

This consultation ran from
9:30am on 5 May 2022 to 9:30am on 2 June 2022

Consultation description

We want to know what you think about the proposal from the WEEE Scheme Forum (WSF) to continue operation of the existing PBS with some detailed modifications designed to improve the operability of the existing arrangements.

In 2019, the government mandated producer compliance schemes (PCSs) to join the approved Producer Compliance Scheme Balancing System (PBS).

We want to know if you:

• support the approval of the current, mandatory PBS
• support the modifications to the current PBS put forward by the WSF
• would like to propose any further modifications to the PBS

Published 5 May 2022
Last updated 8 August 2022 + show all updates

1. 8 August 2022

   Added information on the number of responses and final outcome of the consultation. We received 13 responses, and 7 changes to the Producer Compliance Scheme Balancing System (PBS) came into effect on 19 July 2022.

2. 5 May 2022

   First published.