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OnSafeLines Free Advice on The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (WEEE) to Help You Manage Your Environmental Responsibilities
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations cover all electrical and electronic equipment used by consumers. However, some types of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) are exempt from the WEEE Regulations. They include the following equipment:.
Equipment that does not use electricity through battery or mains supply to fulfil its main function.
Equipment that is part of another type of equipment that is not covered by the WEEE Regulations. However, other waste regulations may apply to them, for example the End-of-Life Vehicle Regulations cover the electrical components of vehicles.
- Equipment designed to protect the UK's national security.
- Filament light bulbs.
- Household light fittings of any kind.
- Large industrial tools, permanently fixed in industrial machinery or an industrial location.
- High-voltage equipment that is designed for use with a voltage rating exceeding 1,000 volts AC or 1,500 volts DC.
- Contaminated medical implants and medical equipment.
- Spare parts that are used to repair EEE.
- Consumables for EEE, such as printer cartridges, are also exempt. However the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Regulations may still apply to them.
The WEEE Regulations apply to EEE in the categories listed below with a voltage of up to 1000 volts for alternating current or up to 1500 volts for direct current. The Regulations apply to almost all businesses. You will need to comply with them if your business:
- manufactures, imports, re-brands, distributes or sells EEE.
- stores, treats, dismantles, recycles, disposes, uses, repairs. or refurbishes WEEE.
Most EEE falls into one of ten categories under the WEEE Regulations:
- Large household appliances e.g. fridges, microwaves, electric heaters
- Small household appliances e.g. kettles, toasters, clocks
- IT and telecommunications equipment e.g. PCs, printers, phones, keyboards, mice
- Consumer equipment e.g. radios, TVs, video equipment, pocket calculators
- Lighting equipment e.g. fluorescent light fittings & lamps, platform lights
- Electrical and electronic tools (except all large-scale stationary industrial tools)
- Toys, leisure and sports equipment
- Medical devices
- Monitoring and control instruments e.g. smoke detectors, thermostats
- Automatic dispensers e.g. automatic food, drinks, money dispensers;
For further advice see NetRegs - Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
The flow chart no the next page can be used to help you identify if electrical and electronic equipment falls under the scope of the WEEE regulations.
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