WEEE Recycling
WEE Recycling is a term which relates to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations act. The purpose of this act is to reduce the environmental impacts of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) when it reaches the end of its useful life.
As a business, there are legal requirements upon you. You must comply with the WEEE Recycling Regulations if you manufacture, import, rebrand, distribute or dispose of EEE. Such items covered by this are household appliances, IT equipment, lighting equipment and power tools.
This page is intended as a guide to explain who is affected by the WEEE Recycling Regulations, and which types of equipment are covered. It outlines the key responsibilities for each type of affected business. It is important that businesses large and small follow guidlines
to miminise the environmental impact of waste products. Corporate Social Responsibility is a key part of today’s business practices.
Equipment covered
The goods covered by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations fall into the following categories:
– large household appliances – for example fridges, radiators and air conditioning appliances
– small household appliances – for example domestic sewing machines, toasters and clocks
– cooling appliances containing refrigerants
– gas discharge lamps
– toys, leisure and sports equipment – for example electric train sets and video games/consoles
– medical devices, such as dialysis machines, ventilators and radiotherapy equipment
– monitoring and control instruments, including smoke detectors, thermostats
– electrical and electronic tools – for example drills, welding equipment and lawnmowers
– IT and telecommunications equipment – for example computers and accessories, calculators and phones
– consumer equipment – for example televisions, radios and musical instruments
– lighting equipment – for example fluorescent lamps and non-household luminaires
– automatic dispensers, such as drinks, food and money vending machines and dispensers
Businesses affected
WEEE Recycling Regulations affect almost all businesses. You need to make sure that you understand your obligations and what you must do to meet them.
You must comply with the WEEE Regulations if you:
– manufacture, import or rebrand electrical or electronic equipment (EEE)
– distribute or sell EEE
– generate any WEEE
– refurbish or repair WEEE
– treat, recycle or recover WEEE
Using EEE
If your business uses Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE ) you must deal with it correctly once you no longer need it.
Producing EEE
Your business is a ‘Producer’ if you:
– manufacture and sell EEE under your own brand
– resell EEE products produced by another supplier under your own brand (rebranding)
– import or export EEE into the UK or another European Union member state on a professional basis
The regulations apply to all producers regardless of their size.
Distributing EEE
Your business is a ‘Distributor’ if you sell EEE for use in the home. This includes selling products via:
– retail outlets
– wholesale outlets
– mail order
– the internet
– TV shopping channels
– other distance-selling methods
Refurbishing WEEE
If your business repairs or refurbishes WEEE, then you may need an environmental permit or an exemption.
Treating and recycling WEEE
If your business treats, reprocesses, recovers or recycles WEEE, you must ensure that you have an environmental permit, or an exemption.
Exporting WEEE
If you export WEEE for reuse, treatment or reprocessing you must comply with export controls.
Operating a producer compliance scheme (PCS)
PCS operators arrange for their members’ WEEE to be collected and treated, recycled or reused. If you operate a PCS you must meet certain requirements.
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