Frequently Asked Questions

What is the WEEE Directive?

It is a piece of legislation covering the whole of the European Union that aims to reduce the amount of electronic waste (PCs, TVs, games consoles, communications equipment, etc) from homes and businesses that ends up in landfill sites.

Who will be affected?

Manufacturers, importers and retailers of electronic and electrical goods are obliged to put systems in place that allow customers to recycle their obsolete devices free of charge.

What equipment is covered by the directive?

Equipment which falls under one of the 10 categories listed in the WEEE Regulations:

  1. Large household appliances (excluding ODS fridges/freezers)
  2. Small household appliances (eg toaster, kettle, vacuum cleaner)
  3. IT and telecommunications equipment (excluding CRTs)
  4. Consumer equipment
  5. Lighting equipment
  6. Electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools)
  7. Toys, leisure and sports equipment
  8. Medical devices (with the exception of all implanted and infected products)
  9. Monitoring and control instruments
  10. Automatic dispensers
Furthermore the WEEE regulations split out the following 3 product groups from the above categories for separate reporting:
  1. Cooling equipment
  2. Display equipment (CRTs) including plasma and LCDs
  3. Gas discharge lamps
  1. Is dependent on electrical current or electromagnetic fields to work properly
  2. Uses a voltage less than 1000V AC or 1500V DC
  3. Is a final product (not component or spare part)
  4. Is not subject to an exemption (fixed installation*, LSSIT, military equipment, consumable)

What is my obligation if I only deal with B2B?

WEEE arising from sources other than private households. This is not a collective obligation and each producer is responsible for financing the collection, treatment, recycling and recovery of B2B WEEE in accordance with the following principles:

  • Where EEE is put on the market before 13th August 2005, and a producer is supplying new EEE to replace it that is equivalent in type or is fulfilling the same function, the producer is responsible for financing the disposal of the WEEE arising.
  • Where EEE is put on the market on or after 13th August 2005 the producer supplying the new EEE is responsible for disposal of the WEEE that will arise from it.
Otherwise, the end user who is discarding the WEEE is responsible.

Nothing prevents a producer concluding an arrangement whereby parties to an agreement decide to finance the costs differently.

How do I know if I am a Producer under the regulations?

You are probably a PRODUCER if you fall into one of the following categories:

  • You are a manufacturer of EEE selling into the UK
  • You re-brand EEE, replacing the original brand and sell in the UK
  • You import EEE on a professional basis from unregistered foreign manufacturers
  • You are a foreign manufacturer who sells EEE directly to UK end users
  • You are a foreign manufacturer of EEE who wants to relieve importers of the need to register (optional)
    (For the WEEE Regulations, it's the UK market that matters)

What do I need to do as a Producer?

As a PRODUCER you will need to:

  • Join a producer compliance scheme such as WEEE Compliance UK
  • Pay for WEEE to be treated and recycled
  • Make quarterly reports of types and quantity of new EEE placed on the market
  • Mark new EEE with the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol
  • Declare their producer registration number to distributors (for household EEE only)
  • Make available information to aid recycling and re-use of products
  • Keep ongoing record of EEE placed on the market

What is New and Historic WEEE?

As a PRODUCER you are responsible for financing the collection and treatment of:

  • For new EEE put on market when it is disposed of
  • For historical EEE sold before August 05 that is being replaced on a like for like basis
    (For historical EEE not being replaced, the business end user is responsible)