The UK WEEE Regulations

2. The UK WEEE Regulations What do I need to do?

3. Outline • Objectives of the WEEE Regulations • What is WEEE • An overview of the WEEE system • Definitions and obligations • Producers and importers • Retailers and distributors • Timetable of key dates in 2007 • Further information

4. Objectives Waste electrical equipment is one of the UK’s fastest growing waste streams, with over 2 million tonnes generated last year. • Reduce the amount of WEEE sent to landfill • Promote the separate collection, treatment and recycling of WEEE • Ensure the safe treatment and disposal of hazardous components • Encourage producers to make products easier to recycle

5. What is “EEE”? Equipment which: • Relies on electricity for its primary purpose • Uses a voltage less than 1000V AC or 1500V DC • Is a final product (not a component or spare part) • Falls under one of the listed categories • Is not subject to an exemption (fixed installation, military equipment, consumable)

6. An overview of the WEEE system (1) • Producers to discharge financial obligations through producer compliance schemes (PCS) • Retailers to either takeback WEEE in store or join the Distributor Takeback Scheme (DTS) • DTS to make available network of Designated Collection Facilities (DCFs) for PCS to collect WEEE from

7. An overview of the WEEE system (2) • PCS to collect WEEE arising at DCFs and either send this for reuse whole, or ensure it is treated and recycled to target levels • PCS to provide evidence of appropriate treatment and recycling to the EAs

8. An overview of the WEEE system (3) • PCS to balance evidence obtained with actual obligations through an Exchange • If PCS do not collect WEEE from DCFs in a particular area, that local authority can arrange treatment and recycling of WEEE, and sell evidence to exchange to recover costs

9. Who is a “producer”? • UK-based manufacturers of EEE • Re-branders of EEE who replace the original brand • Importers of EEE on a professional basis from unregistered manufacturers outside the UK • Non-UK manufacturers who sell EEE directly to UK end-users • Non-UK manufacturers of EEE who want to relieve importers of the need to register (optional)

10. Producer obligations • Join a producer compliance scheme • Make quarterly reports of EEE sold • Finance the collection and treatment of WEEE • Mark products with the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol, date mark and producer mark • Declare registration number when selling EEE • Make available information to aid recycling and re-use of products

11. Household WEEE WEEE returned by consumers to designated collection facilities or in-store takeback Producer compliance schemes arrange collection, treatment and recycling Producers finance treatment of a share of WEEE arising in proportion to their market share (by weight) e.g. if 100T of IT equipment is deposited, a producer with a 10% market share must finance the recycling of 10T Non-household WEEE For new EEE, the producer is responsible for financing collection and treatment when it is disposed of For historic EEE (sold before 13 August 2005) that is being replaced, the producer of the replacement item is responsible For historic EEE not being replaced, the business end user is responsible Producers can arrange takeback and treatment themselves or pay a compliance scheme to do it Financing obligations

12. Who is a “distributor”? • Any firm selling directly to household end-users • This includes retail stores, mail order and internet sellers • There are no obligations in relation to sales to non-household users • The same firm may have both producer and distributor responsibilities

13. In-store takeback Take back old WEEE when selling a replacement item Cannot charge for in-store takeback Must be offered on all types of EEE sold Mail order companies must offer free shipping to a collection point Pass on collected WEEE to a compliance scheme for treatment Distributor takeback scheme Membership of the DTS discharges all distributor takeback obligations The DTS will register and support a network of collection facilities around the country Valpak Retail WEEE Services operates the DTS Distributor obligations - takeback

14. Distributor obligations - information • Distributors must provide information to their customers on: • The environmental impact of WEEE • The benefits of separate collection of WEEE • The meaning of the crossed out bin symbol • The takeback arrangements offered by the distributor, and how to access the DTS network of collection facilities if a member • Information may be provided via posters or leaflets, and the DTS should provide its members with information in a standardised form.

15. Timetable – key dates for 2007 • 28 February – final date for PCS approval • 15 March – deadline for producers to join a PCS • 1 April – producers must start marking products • 1 June – final date for issue of producer registration numbers • 1 July – full producer responsibility starts • 1 July – distributor obligations take effect • 31 Dec – end of first compliance period

16. Further information • DTI website http://www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/sustainability/weee/page30269.html email weee@dti.gov.uk • Environment Agency http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/weee • European Commission WEEE FAQ http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/pdf/faq_weee.pdf • Valpak (the distributor takeback scheme) https://www.valpak.co.uk