WEEE Explained


Producer Obligation under WEEE

Producer (manufacturer, supplier, distributor of IT or Telecoms equipment) The main producer requirements of the WEEE legislation came into full force on 1 April 2007, subject to further consultation. Producers - a term that includes manufacturers, sellers and distributors - will have a number of responsibilities.

EEE Producers' obligations under WEEE legislation

Financing the collection treatment, recovery and disposal of WEEE products placed on the market after the implementation date. Producers need to have "end-of-life plans" for products they produce, sell or distribute after this date. For example, designing products so that most of its parts can be recycled.

Financing the collection treatment, recovery and disposal of WEEE products placed on the market before the implementation date, although they may be able to recoup some of this cost from the user.

Joining a producer compliance scheme by 15 March 2007
Marking their products with a crossed-out wheeled bin symbol from 1 April 2007
Meeting demanding recovery and recycling targets.
Remember, that you must comply with the WEEE regulation requirements or face a penalty which might be a fine, a ban on your products, or even imprisonment.

End business obligation under WEEE

The user (end business user of IT or Telecommunications equipment)

All businesses that use electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) must comply with the WEEE Regulations.

You must store, collect, treat, recycle and dispose of WEEE separately from your other waste. You must obtain and keep proof that your WEEE was given to a waste management company, and was treated and disposed of in an environmentally sound way.

When is disposal free?

You are able to return WEEE free of charge if:

- it was sold to you after 13 August 2005
- you are replacing it with new equivalent EEE.

In these circumstances the producer’s compliance scheme is responsible for the WEEE. Your EEE supplier can give you information on the take-back system available to you.

When do you have to pay for disposal?

You must arrange and pay for the transfer of WEEE to an approved authorised treatment facility (AATF) if: you are discarding EEE which was purchased before 13 August 2005, and are not replacing it with equivalent EEE you can not trace the producer or their compliance scheme. you are purchasing new EEE and you choose, through negotiation with the producer, to accept the future costs of treating and disposing of it.

Negotiating your obligations

You can negotiate your WEEE responsibilities with your supplier. You can agree to transfer obligations for WEEE that is being replaced, or for new EEE when it becomes WEEE and is discarded. This agreement can occur as part of normal contract negotiations, and can benefit both parties. Waste minimisation

You can reduce your disposal costs if you decrease the amount of WEEE you produce.