Find out more about your WEEE responsibilities
What is it?
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) was introduced into UK law in January 2007 by the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment Regulations 2006.
The WEEE Directive aims to reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment being produced and to encourage everyone to reuse, recycle and recover it.
The WEEE Directive also aims to improve the environmental performance of businesses that manufacture, supply, use, recycle and recover electrical and electronic equipment.
If you are an importer, rebrander or manufacturer of new electrical or electronic equipment, then it's likely that you'll need to comply with the UK's WEEE Regulations, which in part implement the WEEE Directive. If you do need to comply, then you must register on a producer compliance scheme.
You may also have obligations under the WEEE Regulations if you are a business with electrical or electronic equipment to dispose of, or if you sell electrical or electronic equipment.
Our role is to provide information and advice on complying with the WEEE Regulations to producers of Electrical or Electronic Equipment (EEE) and the waste management industry.
Retailers
What retailers who sell electrical and electronic equipment need to know about the WEEE Regulations
Retailers' responsibilities
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Regulations (WEEE Regulations) affect retailers and other distributors who sell electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).
If they're selling EEE to the public, retailers will have to ensure that their customers can return their WEEE free of charge.
This will be on a one-for-one basis, as long as the new equipment is of a similar type and has the same function as the old equipment.
The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) is responsible for ensuring that retailers and distributors of electrical equipment play their part in helping household users to dispose of WEEE at the end of a product's life.
Private householders: distributor take-back schemes
Private householders can (but don't have to) return their WEEE to retailers who offer in-store takeback. Retailers are able to set up alternative collection systems as long as they are still convenient for customers.
The WEEE regulations allow a Distributor Takeback Scheme to be created, as an alternative to in-store take back for retailers and other distributors who have joined. This alternative network is largely based on the existing network of local authority civic amenity sites.
Valpak Retail WEEE Services has been appointed to operate the Distributor Takeback Scheme. Retailers and other distributors that join are required to contribute to a fund that pays local authorities to upgrade civic amenity sites put forward as Designated Collection Facilities.
These retailers don't have to offer in-store take back of WEEE but can direct consumers to the nearest Designated Collection Facility.
Retailers also have to ask producers of EEE for their unique producer number when they supply EEE. This number proves that the producer has joined an approved compliance scheme and is helping fund the treatment and recycling of separately collected household WEEE.
Retailers may agree with producers to show consumers a ‘visible fee’ for treating and recycling certain types of products at end of their life. The WEEE regulations and guidance set out the restrictions that apply to these fees.
Householders
Find out how the WEEE Regulations affect households
Summary
The WEEE Directive aims to minimise the amount of WEEE householders throw out with their general rubbish.
By keeping WEEE separate from other waste it can be treated, the hazardous substances can be removed and a large amount of waste can be recycled rather than sent to landfill.
Householders are not banned from disposing of WEEE in their bin but the WEEE Regulations have created a network of collection points for WEEE.
Householders should now find it easier to recycle their old equipment through a mixture of improved local authority civic amenity sites and new take-back facilities provided by retailers. These are operating now.
Householders can:
- ask the retailer if they'll take products back
- take old appliances to their local civic amenity site
- arrange for their local authority to collect the equipment (some local authorities provide a free collection service and others charge)
- arrange for an electrical retailer delivering new equipment to take away the old appliance
Note: householders are now covered by the duty of care and must ensure they only pass their waste to a registered waste carrier or other approved person.
