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Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive

Could this ruling have an impact on your business?

A growing waste stream

Discarded electrical and electronic equipment is one of the fastest growing waste streams globally, according to the European Union.1 (© European Union. CC^)

Termed “Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment” (WEEE), every year an estimated 2 million tonnes of WEEE items are discarded by householders and companies in the UK.2 (© Crown copyright. OGL^)

Rules on e-waste are designed to minimise the impact that the ever-increasing amount of these materials have on the environment, while encouraging more sustainable production and consumption. With the growing amount of discarded electronics in the UK, under the extended responsibility obligations, producers are required to finance the collection, treatment and recovery of WEEE.3

What does this mean for UK businesses?

The UK Government advises that those who sell electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) have certain responsibilities. It says:

“You must provide a way for your customers to dispose of their old household electrical and electronic equipment when you sell them a new version of the same item. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations apply regardless of how you sell the products, whether direct or by internet, mail order or telephone.”

“You must either:

  • provide a free, in store, take back service to your customers
  • set up an alternative, free take back service”

“If you do not have your own take back service, you must join the Distributor Takeback Scheme (DTS).” 4 (© Crown copyright. OGL^)

WEEE regulations cover what happens to a wide range of devices like refrigerators, computers and mobile phones when they reach the end of their working life. The rules are important because these types of electrical waste contain a mix of materials, with some of these being potentially hazardous.5 (© Crown copyright. OGL^)

WEEE goods should now have the crossed wheelie bin symbol on them as a reminder that they have to be disposed of in a sustainable way and not go to landfill.6 (© Crown copyright. OGL^)

What do the regulations say

Electronic and electrical equipment covered by WEEE regulations are as follows:

  • large household appliances
  • small household appliances
  • IT and telecommunications equipment
  • consumer equipment
  • lighting equipment
  • electrical and electronic tools (except large scale stationary industrial tools)
  • toys, leisure and sports equipment
  • medical devices (except implanted and infected products)
  • monitoring and control equipment
  • automatic dispensers
  • display equipment
  • appliances containing refrigerants
  • gas discharge lamps and light-emitting diode (LED) light sources
  • PV panels (solar panels).

Ref: 7 (© Crown copyright. OGL^)

Next steps on climate risk

Former Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has emphasised the importance of accountability mechanisms for transition plans. He said:

“As an increasing number of firms disclose their assessment of climate risks, investors should have the opportunity to opine on the quality of these disclosures and so called ‘transition plans’. As with ‘say on pay’ there are growing calls for investors to have a ‘say on transition’: a vote on the adequacy of a company’s preparedness for the transition to a net-zero world. This mechanism would embed the critical link between responsibility and accountability.”

And as the G7 have pledged to follow the UK in mandating climate risk reporting from large businesses, the transition plan mandate may well go global.

Recycling rare resources

The original EU WEEE Directive requires the separate collection and proper treatment of WEEE and sets targets for their collection as well as for their recovery and recycling. EU rules address environmental and other issues caused by the growing number of discarded electronics in the EU. The aim is to contribute to sustainable production and consumption by:

Preventing the creation of WEEE as a priority

Contributing to the efficient use of resources and the retrieval of secondary raw materials through re-use, recycling and other forms of recovery

Improving the environmental performance of everyone involved in the life cycle of EEE.

There are rare and expensive resources that could be recycled and re-used if the e-waste is effectively managed, all of which contributes to the growth of the circular economy.8 (© European Union. CC^)

The Environment Agency for England and Wales, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency are responsible for ensuring that all eligible producers and suppliers register with a compliance scheme.9 (© Crown copyright. OGL^)

This article has been written by SaveMoneyCutCarbon and is correct at 29 August 2024. This content does not constitute advice and is for general guidance only. Always undertake your own research before taking any action.

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