Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is the fastest growing type of waste in the UK.
Common types of WEEE include:
- computers and other office equipment
- fluorescent light tubes
- fridges
- washing machines
- TVs
- vending machines.
What you must do
Check if the WEEE Regulations apply to your business
Your manufacturing, electrical and electronic equipment business will need to comply with WEEE Regulations if you:
- manufacture electrical and electronic equipment (EEE)
- import EEE
- re-brand EEE
- distribute EEE
- sell EEE
- store WEEE
- treat WEEE
- dismantle WEEE
- recycle WEEE
- dispose of WEEE
- use WEEE
- repair or refurbish WEEE.
Do the WEEE Regulations apply to your business?
Exemptions from the WEEE Regulations
Comply with your WEEE requirements
If your business manufactures, import or re-sells EEE under your own brand you have responsibilities for the EEE you place on the market. You must:
- pay for the treatment and recycling of EEE
- join a producer compliance scheme (PCS) and provide information to your PCS
- mark your products with a crossed out wheeled bin.
For further information on what you must do to comply with the WEEE Regulations, see our WEEE guidance.
Producers of equipment - What you must do
Producers of equipment - household and non-household WEEE
Producers of equipment - marking your products
Equipment distributors and retailers - what you must do
Comply with your waste responsibilities
You must comply with your duty of care responsibilities when dealing with WEEE.
If your WEEE contains hazardous substances, you may need to treat it as hazardous/special waste. Examples include fluorescent light tubes and televisions that contain cathode ray tubes.
