Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
The Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive), which
came into effect on 2nd January 2007, aims to minimise the impact
of electrical and electronic goods on the environment, by increasing
re-use and recycling and reducing the amount of WEEE going to landfill.
It seeks to achieve this by making producers responsible for financing
the collection, treatment, and recovery of waste electrical equipment,
and by obliging distributors to allow consumers to return their waste
equipment free of charge.
The WEEE Regulations apply to any electrical and electronic equipment
which falls within the following product categories:
- Large
household appliances
- Small
household appliances
- IT
& Telecommunications equipment
- Consumer
equipment
- Lighting
equipment
- Electrical
and electronic tools
- Toys
leisure and sports equipment
- Medical
devices
- Monitoring
and control instruments
- Automatic
dispensers
Practice
action
Practices
should ensure that suppliers conform to the Directive and remove free
of charge any surplus, waste or superceded equipment which falls into
any of the above categories.
There
is a draft Waste Management/Disposal Protocol (which includes
WEEE provisions) in the Practice Operation & Development index
of the Members
Library. If
you are not a Member,
click here
for information about the benefits of membership and how to subscribe.
Further
information
Environment Agency: Guidance on WEEE
Waste legislation overview page
Link
won't open?
