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What is covered by the WEEE regulations?
Any electrical or business equipment. That includes computers, printers, photocopiers, faxes and ink
cartridges. They also cover furniture, glass and mobile phones.
What do you mean by electrical equipment?
All of the kinds of equipment you might have in your house, such as fridges, kettles, telephones, lighting,
TVs, electronic or electric tools, toys, and also vending machines, medical devices, even sports equipment.
Even the kitchen sink!
That too would be good for recycling, but it’s not covered by this.
Why are new regulations coming into place?
For several reasons. Recycling your old items is better for the environment, other organisations could
benefit, and there are safety reasons.
It sounds like a bit of a chore. What is my business going to gain from this?
You could save money, for a start.
Now you’ve got me interested! How?
If you have an effective disposal policy, you could resell equipment by recycling it or dismantling it for parts.
It will also save you a lot of space.
I’m with you on that. Anything else?
You’ll also avoid a fine, prosecution or even imprisonment for incorrect disposal.
Ah, that kind of saving money.
It can benefit charities or schools if you donate your old computers to them. That’s good PR, and your
employees will feel there are part of an environmentally responsible company. Anyway, it’s a terrible waste
to just throw old equipment away.
I have to agree it makes sense. But what are my actual legal obligations as an equipment user?
As a business using electrical equipment, you must store, collect, treat, recycle and dispose of ‘WEEE’
separately from all other waste, just as you should separate paper for recycling. Normal households also
have to dispose of their WEEE separately.
Do I have to keep a record?
Yes, you must get and retain proof that your WEEE has been collected by a waste management company,
and was treated and disposed of in an environmentally sound way.
Are there different regulations for companies that produce or distribute WEEE?
Yes, they have a far more stringent level of regulations. Producers must join a producer compliance
scheme. They have to finance the collection and treatment of all WEEE produced after 13 August 2005, and
the same if they are replacing equipment from before that date.
That puts my problems into perspective!. How about distributors?
They will be helpful to you, as they are obliged to supply customers with information about safety and
recycling procedures, and take-back schemes.
Sounds good. If everyone does their bit, it makes it much easier for us all to recycle our kit.
Links
Disposal of old equipment: your responsibilities
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive
IT Recycling Companies
IT Recycling Charities
Want to know more about the rules for recycling and disposing of WEEE? Click here for more information.
Also in this issue: RFID – what does it mean for you? and Wi-Fi – the dangers
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