News briefs: UK cartel, battery take-back
Print9 October 2008
UK retailers in cartel
According the Financial Times last month, several major grocery chains and consumer goods businesses in the UK will be paying out heavy fines after the Office of Fair Trading confirmed it had found evidence the companies had been sharing pricing plans. In what was reportedly the biggest cartel investigation ever conducted by the OFT, it said there was “reasonable grounds to suspect” pricing data were passed among supermarkets via suppliers. Should it formally conclude a cartel had been operating, the OFT can fine offenders up to 10% of revenues, although whistleblowers can receive reductions of up to 100%.
Battery take-back starts
The new EU Waste Battery Directive has now come into effect, as of Friday 26 September. Under the new legislation, retailers that sell batteries will be required to take waste batteries, similar in type to those they supply, even where the customer depositing the waste batteries doesn’t purchase a new battery. Commenting last month, director of IBEC’s Retail Ireland, Torlach Denihan said: “All our members will apply the regulations which will contribute greatly towards meeting the target of recycling 25% of all batteries placed on the market by 2012 and 45% by 2016.” Smaller retailers and schools will receive a front-of-shop collection box while civic amenity sites and larger retailers will be provided with barrels to allow for collection.
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