THE Government is proposing to set up a national "clearing house" to provide free collection of waste electrical equipment.

The proposal is contained in a consultation document - EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (known as WEEE) - due to be implemented in EU member states by the summer. The clearing house, which would be funded by manufacturers, would collect equipment from local waste sites and take them for treatment, recovery and recycling.

WEEE aims to recycle and tighten up the treatment of waste, particularly hazardous materials contained within electrical equipment.