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WEEE - Advice to Householders

Aim

The aim of this web page is to provide advice on what the Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations mean for householders.

Background

WEEE is one of the fastest growing waste streams in Europe. In the UK alone, householders throw away around 1m tonnes of WEEE each year, which is enough to fill 6 new Wembley Stadiums. Much of this waste ends up in landfill, where the harmful substances it contains can cause pollution; but it is possible to reuse and recycle electrical items rather than send them to landfill.

In July 2007 the way this waste is managed changed with the introduction of the WEEE Regulations. The regulations aim to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment, by increasing re-use and recycling and reducing the amount of WEEE going to landfill.

To ensure waste electricals do not contribute to damaging the environment, they need to be separated out from other household waste so that they can be recycled. The WEEE Regulations make it easier for consumers to recycle their old electrical equipment through a mixture of dedicated collection points at local civic amenity sites and new take back facilities provided by retailers.

Information for Householders

All distributors of EEE for household use, be they high street, mail order or internet retailers, have an obligation to provide information to householders about the separate collection facilities available to for WEEE.

When buying a new appliance, householders should ask the retailer how to dispose of their old equipment.
Some retailers provide an instore WEEE take back service to the householder, free of charge, when supplying new EEE on a like for like basis, i.e. kettle for new kettle or video recorder for DVD player etc.

Most retailers have joined the Distributor Take-back Scheme (DTS), which is supporting a national network of Designated Collection Facilities (DCFs), where householders can return their WEEE. The DCF network is primarily based at local authority civic amenity sites. If the retailer is a DTS member it should be able to advise where the nearest civic amenity or household waste recycyling centre is located.

If the retailer is not a member of the Distributor Take-back Scheme, then they should be offering in-store take-back services

The Government expects all retailers of EEE to declare, if challenged by householders, whether they are providing take-back via their membership of the DTS or providing an in-store take-back service.

Collection on Delivery

Many distributors offer home-delivery services to the customer purchasing large and bulky items of EEE and as part of the service will collect an equivalent old product at the same time.

The UK WEEE Regulations will not affect this service. Distributors may continue to provide Collection on Delivery services to their customers, either free of charge or at cost depending on their own commercial practice/policy. The cost of collection should however only cover the transportation and handling costs. It should not cover the cost of recycling.

Bulky Waste Collections

The UK WEEE Regulations do not affect the collection of bulky waste from households by Local Authorities. It will be at the discretion of Local Authorities whether they charge for this service.

All new EEE (products or packaging) should be marked with the crossed out wheeled bin symbol. This symbol is intended to remind householders to separate their WEEE and dispose of it in a responsible manner and separately from other household waste.

For further information or concerns of non compliance please contact the WEEE Hotline - 0844 8000 819