Recycling of Electrical Waste

ON 1st July, the UK brought into force the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. This imposes new requirements for the disposal of electrical waste. Ian Robinson says:-

“The WEEE directive covers a wide range of products such as:

• Large household appliances: fridges, freezers, microwave ovens, washing machines
• Small household appliances: vacuum cleaners, toasters, coffee machines, electric toothbrushes
• IT and telecommunications equipment: PCs, laptops, monitors, keyboards, printers, cordless phones
• Consumer equipment: radios, TVs, DVD players, video recorders etc
• Lighting equipment: low-energy Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) are classified as WEEE
• Electric tools: all tools such as drills, saws, sewing machines. Only large, stationary industrial tools are exempt
• Toys, sport and leisure equipment: electric trains, game consoles, cycle computers etc
• Medical devices: implanted or infected products are exempt
• Monitoring and control devices: smoke alarms, thermostats etc
• Automated devices: this classification covers all appliances that automatically deliver products, e.g. drinks, food, money etc.

Businesses which sell these items can either give consumers the right to return the goods to the shop when they are going to be thrown away in replacement for a new item or they can opt to fund centralised recycling. There are at least 36 different "producer compliance schemes" manufacturers and importers can join. The schemes arrange collection, delivery and disposal of affected waste without further charge to the customer. The average cost of each device subject to the regime is estimated to be less than GBP1 per item sold.

Many of our clients will be affected by the new rules. Call Ian on 023 9286 2424 for further information.

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Notes

Information the WEEE regulations is on the website of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formally the DTI) at http://www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/sustainability/weee/page30269.html
Many trade associations also provide some guidance to their members on this topic.