Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
(WEEE) Directive
What is WEEE?
WEEE is electrical or electronic equipment which is waste within the meaning of the Waste Framework Directive (2006/12/EC), including all components, subassemblies and consumables which are part of the product at the time of discarding.
Waste in this context is defined as "Any substance or object the holder discards, intends to discard or is required to discard" under the Waste Framework Directive (European Directive (WFD) 2006/12/EC), as amended by the new WFD (Directive 2008/98/EC).
What Electrical and Electronic Equipment do these Regulations Apply to?
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations apply to electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) in the categories listed below with a voltage of up to 1000 volts for alternating current or up to 1500 volts for direct current.
Schedule two of the WEEE Regulations provides examples of products falling within these categories.
- Large household appliances
- Small household appliances
- IT and telecommunications equipment
- Consumer equipment
- Lighting equipment
- Electrical and electronic tools
- Toys, leisure and sports equipment
- Medical devices
- Monitoring and control equipment
- Automatic dispensers
Why is WEEE an Important Issue?
Electrical and Electronic Equipment consume large quantities of the world’s resources to produce, use and dispose of. To minimise the impact of electrical and electronic equipment on these resources and our environment WEEE regulations have been introduced with the aim of:
- Reducing waste from electrical and electronic equipment.
- Encouraging the separate collection of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
- Encouraging the treatment, reuse, recovery, recycling and sound environmental disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
- Making producers of electrical and electronic equipment responsible for the environmental impact of their products.
- Improving the environmental performance of all those involved during the lifecycle of electrical and electronic equipment.
What Does this Symbol Mean and Where Will You Find it?
The crossed out wheeled bin symbol designates a product as being or including Electrical and Electronic Equipment and is intended as an encouragement to separate items with this symbol from general or household waste when being discarded.
Since 13 August 2005 producers are required by UK law to ensure that the crossed out wheeled bin symbol is printed in a visible, legible and indelible form on the product itself, except for in exceptional cases where this is not possible because of the size or function of the product. In such cases, the symbol must be printed on the packaging, the instructions for use and the accompanying warranty (where applicable).
Facilities are available throughout the UK to receive, recycle, reuse or environmentally dispose of products with this symbol.
Does My Business Have Responsibilities Under the WEEE Regulations?
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations apply to almost all businesses. They aim to reduce the amount of electrical and electronic waste going to landfill and improve recovery and recycling rates.
If you manufacture, import or re-brand electrical and electronic equipment and place it on the UK market, you will be a producer. You must join a producer compliance scheme.
If you provide new electrical and electronic equipment directly to household users or consumers you will be a distributor. You must provide facilities to your customers to return old equipment free of charge. As a distributor you have no obligation to take back waste electrical and electronic equipment from business users.
If you are a business end user of electrical and electronic equipment you must ensure that waste electrical and electronic equipment is properly segregated and stored safely in accordance with Duty of Care. However, you no longer need to pay for the disposal of electrical and electronic equipment when it becomes waste. Producers pay for the treatment, collection and recycling in most cases.
Does My WEEE Have to be Taken Back for Free by the Manufacturer or Supplier of New Equipment?
Your business can return waste electrical and electronic equipment free of charge to the manufacturer of the equipment if it was sold to you new after 13 August 2005.
If you are replacing waste electrical and electronic equipment produced before 13 August 2005 with new equivalent electrical and electronic equipment, you can return the waste electrical and electronic equipment free of charge to the manufacturer of your new equipment.
If you rent or lease electrical and electronic equipment you can return waste electrical and electronic equipment free of charge to your equipment supplier.
You must arrange and pay for the transfer of waste electrical and electronic equipment to an approved authorised treatment facility if you:
- Are discarding electrical and electronic equipment which was purchased before 13 August 2005 (known as historic WEEE), and are not replacing it with equivalent electrical and electronic equipment.
- Cannot trace the producer or its compliance scheme.
- Negotiate an alternative arrangement with your supplier.
How Can WEEE be Disposed of Properly?
Northgate Systems will undertake our responsibility as a Distributor to assist our clients’ dispose of these goods in line with European legislation.
When you have finished with a WEEE product, please do not put in your domestic waste bin, as it will not be recycled.
If you are discarding products purchased from Northgate Systems since 13th August 2005 and purchasing replacement products from us, we will assist you return the discarded products to the manufacturer for disposal.
If the products were not purchased form Northgate Systems, are being discarded and not replaced or were purchased before 13th August 2005, you can find the nearest appropriate Waste Disposal Site from netregs.gov.uk or contact us at weee@northgatesystems.co.uk and we will do what we can to help.