Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
Ever increasing amounts of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) are being produced every year within the United Kingdom. Rapid technological advancement within recent decades has unfortunately pushed WEEE figures to previously unprecedented levels. This is due to the ongoing push for new and improved Electric and Electronic Equipment (EEE). Increased levels of development, whilst benefiting the consumer, have led to large scale adverse effects upon the environment.
The European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, aims to minimise the impacts of WEEE on the environment, both during their initial lifetime, and more importantly when they become waste. The Directive also seeks to increase levels of WEEE recycling, thus producing less waste. Furthermore, it places particular restrictions upon the Producer.
All Producers of Electrical and Electronic Equipment must now accept the financial responsibility for the costs of the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of all WEEE, which they supply to businesses. The WEEE Directive affects all businesses that produce any of the materials set out within the European WEEE Directive.
The ten product categories are:
- Large household appliances
- Small household appliances
- IT and telecommunications equipment
- Consumer equipment
- Lighting equipment
- Electrical and electronic tools
- Toys leisure and sports equipment
- Medical devices
- Monitoring and control instruments
- Automatic dispensers
The Directive will lead to increased charges being placed upon the suppliers. The increased levels of producer based responsibility, from the safe collection to the environmentally sound disposal of equipment, will ultimately add to increased costs.
Wastecycle’s WEEE services can help you to reduce those costs and fulfil your responsibilities under the Directive, with specialised containers and collection services, our experienced advisors can tailor your requirements to suit your business needs.