The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) was introduced into UK law in January 2007. It aims to reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment being produced and to encourage everyone to reuse, recycle and recover it. The WEEE Directive also aims to improve the environmental performance of businesses that manufacture, supply, use, recycle and recover electrical and electronic equipment.
If you are an importer, re-brander or manufacturer of new electrical or electronic equipment, then it’s likely that you’ll need to comply with the UK’s WEEE Regulations, which in part implement the WEEE Directive. If you do need to comply, then you must register on a producer compliance scheme.
You may also have obligations under the WEEE Regulations if you are a business with electrical or electronic equipment to dispose of, or if you sell electrical or electronic equipment.
As a business how do the WEEE Regulations affect me?
Can I avoid this cost?If it is deemed that your business is liable for the cost of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulation approved disposal of your IT equipment, then there are a number of schemes that can help with offsetting the cost associated with this. Companies such as Direct Computer Services Ltd (the owners of www.buy-it-back.com) offer a complete Buy Back service for all of your unwanted computer hardware, where they will collect your old equipment and then either refurbish and sell on, or correctly recycle the components. This can result in a profit for the computer disposal company and so they can offer a payment to your business associated with this. Unsurprisingly this is fast becoming a popular solution to many business’ WEEE compliance commitments.
Are there any exemptions to WEEE compliance?
Yes, many of the consumables that are associated with Electronic and Electrical Equipment are only considered to become waste (WEEE) if they are part of another product that is WEEE. For example, when a printer is discarded it becomes WEEE. If an ink cartridge is inside the printer at the time, then the ink cartridge also becomes part of that WEEE at the time of disposal. The ink cartridge would not be WEEE if discarded on its own.
Contact us now for further information explaining our commitment to WEEE Recycling and to get a free quote for the complete Buy Back of your electronic waste and unwanted IT equipment.
