WEEE regulations come into force

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

The WEEE regulations came into force on 2nd January 2007. Producers of WEEE must join a compliance scheme by 25th March 2007 and must “mark” their products with a crossed out “wheelie” bin symbol by 1st April 2007. The requirement to treat and recycle WEEE comes into force on 1st July 2007.

So what is WEEE and who is affected by the regulations?

WEEE is any piece of waste electrical or electronic equipment and so it is likely that all non-household establishments will be affected by the WEEE regulations, for example all, businesses, hospitals and schools etc. Some WEEE has properties that make it hazardous, for example cathode ray tubes (televisions), nickel-cadmium batteries and fluorescent tubes. Some other electrical and lighting products may also contain hazardous substances. Where WEEE is hazardous, handling and disposal is covered by the Hazardous Waste Regulations. All other WEEE is covered by the WEEE regulations.

What are the implications for business of the WEEE regulations?

You must store, transport and dispose or recycle your WEEE, separately from other waste streams you produce.If the Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) that you need to dispose off was manufactured before 13th August 2005, you will have to pay for the disposal via an authorised facility from 1st July 2007 onwards, although some charges are already in place. If your waste EEE was manufactured after 13th August 2005 and you are replacing the old EEE with a new item, your supplier is responsible for the cost of collection and disposal etc, via their compliance scheme membership.

Conclusions

WEEE is covered by Duty of Care, WEEE and possibly Hazardous Waste regulations and you should therefore manage WEEE responsibly as you would any other waste.