Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is a complex mixture of materials and components that because of their hazardous content, can cause major environmental and health problems if not properly managed. The main purpose of these regulations is to protect the environment from the impacts of WEEE and protect human health; so if your business places Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) on the market in the UK, (i.e. you sell), you need to be aware of your legal requirements. You will have obligations both in terms of the EEE you sell and also for financing the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of WEEE.
EEE is regulated to reduce the amount of WEEE incinerated or sent to landfill sites. This is achieved through various measures that encourage the recovery, reuse and recycling of products and components. Schedule 4 of the regulations lists types of applicable EEE. These regulations became UK law on 1st January 2014, revoking the 2006 Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations. They transpose the main provisions of Directive 2012/19/EU on WEEE, which recasts the previous Directive 2002/96/EC.
