July 15, 2024
We are a registered waste carrier and fully licensed by the Environmental Agency no: CBDU181868
Britain may have voted to leave the European Union in 2016, but thanks to our previous membership we have some pretty impressive legislation in place pertaining to recycling and sustainable waste management.
One important law is the Waste and Electrical Equipment Directive(2012/19/EU) which legislates for the safe disposal of WEEE. This EU Directive became law in 2003 and was implemented three years later in the UK under the WEEE Regulations 2006,providing guidelines and regulations covering the recovery, recycling, reuse and the safe disposal of WEEE waste. The Directive sets out the criteria fort he collection, disposal and recovery of electrical equipment to help reduce the quantity of waste and ensure producers of such waste are operating environmentally.
What is WEEE recycling?
Firstly, WEEE waste refers to waste from electrical and electronic equipment. The ever-increasing mountain of WEEE waste in the UK and throughout Europe comprises mainly mobiles, PCs, TVs, fridges / freezers, fluorescent tubes, solar panels and medical equipment. The objective of WEEE recycling is recover, recycle and reuse, thereby reducing waste and safeguarding the environment.
So why is WEEE recycling so important?
Apart from the fact that WEEE waste is currently the world’s fastest growing problem, electrical products contain chemicals that can be harmful to the environment and humans when they enter the food chain. If simply discarded in landfills or even worse fly-tipped in a field, these toxic elements and nanoparticles can leak into the earth, poisoning the water and soil. By recycling, these elements and precious metals can be recovered and used in the manufacture of new items, thereby saving natural resources, whilst looking after the environment.
Batteries are also categorized as WEEE waste, although small they have a big impact on the environment. They are equally as dangerous as toxins and chemicals but for a different reason. Rather than leaking toxic substances into the ground, according to the Environmental Services Association, batteries are responsible for 48 percent of all waste fires throughout the UK. These fires are often started by the miniscule lithium batteries inside our discarded electrical products, such as a calculator, laptop or mobile.
When WEEE waste is disposed of incorrectly, dangerous chemicals and toxins can enter our food chain. This is exactly why the EU, and the UK Government, has published directives providing strict guidelines on the correct and safe disposal of old electrical waste. The issue is so important, a custodial sentence and hefty fine could be imposed for anyone found to be flouting the law.
The benefits of recycling
As more and more people separate electrical and electronic equipment from normal rubbish to be recycled, fewer of the earth’s precious resources are confined to landfills, which means lower carbon emissions released. WEEE waste recycling also reduces the need to mine these natural resources, thereby safeguarding the natural habitat of animals and the lives of those put at risk to mine these precious resources.
How are WEEE recycling regulations implemented?
The laws surrounding the safe disposal of WEEE waste are crystal clear; if you sell or manufacturer electronic products, it is your responsibility to collect and recycle old models when they reach the end of their life. Take back schemes include free in-store recycling, whereby customers have 28 days after buying new electrical goods to deposit their old model, even if they didn’t buy it from the same store.
Alternatively, if you have a large amount of WEEE recycling, for example old PCS. Laptops or mobiles that have been updated in an office, you can book a professional waste management team like Brighton G&S Clearance, to collect and recycle them for you.
WEEE producer compliance schemes in the UK
As a producer of WEEE products, you are obliged to register with the appropriate agency and pay for recycling all of the packaging your company has introduced on to the market. If you don’t have the ability to manage the WEEE recycling in-house, there are packaging compliance companies located throughout the UK that can manage the process and make sure your business is compliant with the most up to date legislation. According to the 2023 Compliance Scheme Public Register (updated in February 2024), there are currently 50companies registered under the compliance scheme.
If you would like assistance implementing a commercial WEEE waste removal and recycling plan in the Brighton area, please contact G&S Clearance on WhatsApp: or email info@gsclearance.co.uk.
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