A new directive which aims to improve how much IT equipment is recycled has come into force.

Despite extensive delays, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive is designed to try and force IT manufactures to recycle more old and used equipment.

Now, IT manufacturers must fund recycling schemes and retailers have to offer customers take-back services.

Jonathan Wright, a senior supply chain executive for Accenture, welcomed the directive, telling the BBC: "I think this is an absolutely great piece of legislation.

"In the past, all that companies focused on was getting products made and getting them out to customers.

"Now, organisations are having to think about what is going to happen after the product has been sold."

However, charity Computer Aid International said that many small businesses in the UK were still uncertain about how the rules would affect them.

IT Week reports that the charity's chief executive, Tony Roberts, said: "Faced with a host of conflicting information, many businesses are either confused about the directive or are totally unaware that it affects them at."

According to recent survey by Connect, the two biggest IT headaches for businesses were 'everyday hassles with IT' (37 per cent) and 'security concerns' (32 per cent).