North-East manufacturers have welcomed tough new recycling rules even though the prices of all electrical and electronic household goods are likely to rise to meet the cost.

From fridges to mobile phones, TVs to singing greetings cards, toasters to torches - when they reach the end of their lives, their manufacturers will have to pay for them to be disposed of properly.

The cost will be passed on to the consumer.

The European Parliament has approved a new environmental directive which is expected to be introduced in 2005 - although it still needs the go-ahead from the EU Council of Ministers.

It is the latest a series of tough new waste disposal rules - another of which recently led to local councils being forced to stockpile old fridges and freezers, because of the lack of special CFC gas recyling plants.

Durham County Council has been forced to ship scores of unwanted fridges to Germany for recycling.

''I think the Government will have learned alot from the fridge situation,'' said David Burton, Health Safety and Environmental Co-Ordinator at Electrolux's factory in Spennymoor, County Durham, which produces 30,000 cookers a year and employs 750 people. He conceded that there might be ''teething problems'' when the rules are brought it. ''Consumers must also take responsibility,'' said Mr Burton.

The manufacturers will pay for disposal and recycling points at municipal tips, but the legislation will also force consumers to separate their household waste.

The industry is pleased that the regulations will allow shops to separately display the recycling cost along with the price of a new product. Manufacturers believe this will encourage consumers to conform with the rules.

The European Parliament has rejected proposals by EU environment ministers to force manufacturers pay the disposal costs for products made by companies who have gone into liquidation.