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Recycling and waste

Producer responsibility

• Batteries
• End-of-Life Vehicles
• Farm Plastics
• Packaging
• WEEE & RoHS
• Voluntary Agreements

Producer Responsibility: Electrical and Electronic Equipment

EC Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

Aims and requirements of the WEEE Directive

The WEEE Directive aims to reduce the quantity of waste from electrical and electronic equipment and increase its re-use, recovery and recycling.

The Directive affects producers, distributors and recyclers of electrical and electronic equipment - including household appliances, IT and telecoms equipment, audiovisual equipment (TV, video, hi-fi), lighting, electrical and electronic tools, toys, leisure and sports equipment.

See the BERR WEEE pages for further information.

WEEE permitting

The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 provide that WEEE has to be treated in accordance with the requirements of Article 6 of the WEEE Directive. The regulations also provide  an exemption from environmental permitting for the repair and re-furbishment of WEEE for re-use and a further exemption from environmental permitting for storage of WEEE; these exemptions must be registered with the Environment Agency.

• The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007(on OPSI website)
• Guidance on Best Available Treatment, Recovery and Recycling Techniques and Treatment of WEEE - November 2006 (PDF 200 KB)
• Guidance on application of environmental permits to WEEE

Further information

• Trial to establish waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) protocols (pdf, 2.5 MB) (amended, 20 April 2007). Defra in association with the CIWM (EB) has developed protocols to simplify the data required by producers to demonstrate compliance with their treatment and recycling obligations under the WEEE Regulations.
• Trial to determine WEEE Protocol for category one Large Domestic Appliances (pdf, 100 KB)
• WEEE and hazardous waste

The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)

The Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) Directive aims to limit the environmental impact of electrical and electronic equipment when it reaches the end of its life.

It does this by minimising the use of hazardous substances and ensuring the harmonisation of legislation controlling hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment across the Community.

• RoHS Directive (on BEER website)

European Commission information

• The European Union website
• European Union legal documents
• EU WEEE pages

Contacting Defra

If you want further information that is not covered by these pages, you can contact us:

Producer Responsibility Unit
Waste Management Division
Defra
Area D Floor 6
Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London SW1P 2AL

Tel: 0207 238 4344
Fax: 020 7082 8764
Email: david.westerman@defra.gsi.gov.uk

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Page last modified: 16 June 2008
Page published: 5 February 2003

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