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Information for the waste management industry

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) legislation affects businesses in the waste management industry that want to set up WEEE approved treatment facilities (ATFs) and export WEEE for re-use overseas.

In order to treat, refurbish or store WEEE and become an ATF you will need either an environmental permit or waste exemption from us. To find out how to obtain a permit or register an exempt activity with us, you should visit our environmental permitting page:

Any storage or treatment of WEEE must be done in accordance with the relevant standards under the WEEE Directive and Defra’s ‘Guidance on Best Available Treatment Recovery and Recycling Techniques (BATRRT) and treatment of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)’.

The Environment Agency is currently carrying out a national compliance campaign from November 2011 to ensure that all sites which store and treat WEEE are complying with permit conditions that implement  these BATRRT requirements. The WEEE waste streams being targeted as a priority are: 

  • Cathode ray tubes (CRTs)
  • Refrigeration equipment and cooling appliances
  • Fluorescent lighting tubes
  • Flat panel display units
  • Small mixed WEEE, and 
  • Large household appliances

For more information on the storage and treatment on WEEE see our flyer:

For more information on BATRRT requirements please see Defra’s guidance below or contact your local site inspector.

Treating and exporting WEEE: how to apply for approval as an approved authorised treatment facility (AATF) or approved exporter (AE)

If you want to apply to be approved and issue WEEE evidence notes, visit our approval page:

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