B7.3.2 WEEE
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 [SI No. 3289]
… as amended by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2007 [SI No. 3454].
The WEEE Regulations apply to Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) which:
- Is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work properly, including equipment for the generation, transfer and measurement of such currents and fields.
- Is designed for use with a voltage rating not exceeding 1,000V for alternating current and 1,500V for direct current.
- Falls into one of the 10 categories in Schedule 1 to the WEEE Regulations:
- Large household appliances.
- Small household appliances.
- IT and telecommunications equipment.
- Consumer equipment.
- Lighting equipment.
- Electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools).
- Toys, leisure and sports equipment.
- Medical devices (with the exception of all implanted and infected products).
- Monitoring and control instruments.
- Automatic dispensers.
These regulations apply to those who rebrand, manufacturer or import new electrical or electronic equipment (EEE).
Importers, rebranders and manufacturers
As with the packaging regulations, there are approved producer compliance schemes. If the regulations apply, you must join one. To register with a compliance scheme you will need to pay a registration fee. You must inform the scheme how much electrical and electronic equipment you place on the UK market each calendar year and specify whether the equipment was supplied for household or business) use. Then you will be issued with a producer registration number that you must provide to anyone who distributes or sells your equipment.
Importers, rebranders and manufacturers must also provide information on how to dismantle and recycle your products when they come to the end of their life.
All new electrical products must be marked with:
- The crossed-out wheeled bin symbol.
- A producer identification mark.
- A date mark.
Retailers
Retailers who sell EEE to the public must ensure that their customers can return their WEEE free of charge. This must be one 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. (For example, if buying a DVD player, you should be able to return your old video tape player).
The retailers do not have to provide a take-back-scheme. They are permitted to set up alternative collection systems as long as they are still convenient for customers. A Distributor Takeback Scheme has been created, which predominantly uses the existing network of local authority civic amenity sites.
Producers of EEE must provide retailers with their unique producer number when they supply EEE. This proves that the producer has joined an approved compliance scheme and is therefore helping to fund the treatment and recycling of separately collected household WEEE.
Business Users of EEE
There are different requirements depending upon when a product was placed on the market.
If a product was put on the market after 13 August 2005, the manufacturers, retailers, branders and importers of EEE are responsible for financing the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of the EEE.
The Directive allows producers and businesses to agree alternative financing arrangements. This is a commercial decision and should form part of the normal negotiating processes involved in purchasing.
Historic WEEE
This is any WEEE arising from products placed on the market before 13 August 2005. If historic WEEE from businesses is being replaced by new equivalent products, the EEE producer is responsible for financing the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal when supplying the new products. In other cases, where the historic WEEE is not being replaced, the end user (the business) has to pay.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2007 [SI 3454].
Amends 2006/3289 to encourage prioritising reuse of whole appliances in the WEEE system.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2009 [SI 2957]
Amends 2006/3289 by improving the Producer Compliance Scheme approval process and reducing the administrative burden on business by simplifying the data reporting requirements and the evidence system. This applies in England.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2010 [SI 1155]
Amends 2006/3289 replacing ‘dangerous substance or preparation’ with ‘dangerous substance or mixture’ and (as from 1 December 2010 and 1 June 2015) substitutes new definitions of ‘dangerous substance or mixture’. This applies in the UK.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment)(No2) Regulations 2009 [SI 3216]
Corrects a defect in 2009/2957 by requiring producers of electrical and electronic equipment for domestic use to report details quarterly, and annually for all other EEE.
Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 [SI 675].
Provides a consolidated system for environmental permits and exemptions for certain business activities including repairing, storing and treating WEEE.