About WEEE Waste Collection and Recycling
The disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is heavily regulated within the UK, particularly since 2013. It is also the quickest growing waste stream across the nation. Broadly speaking, WEEE waste covers almost all household items that involve either a plug or a battery to function. Due to the strict nature of these regulations, getting rid of WEEE waste can become a legal landmine. Businesses that fail to comply with the WEEE regulations can incur hefty fines.
What is classed as WEEE Waste?
According to the WEEE Regulations, there are 14 main types of WEEE waste which must therefore be disposed of both legally and responsibly. These include:
- Large household appliances such as white goods like washing machines, cookers and dishwashers. These usually comprise 40% of WEEE.
- Small Household appliances such as kettles, irons, clocks and hoovers.
- Lighting equipment such as wall lights, desk lamps, fairy lights, and mirrors with light fittings.
- Electrical and electronic tools such as saws, drills, lawnmowers and sewing machines.
- Toys, leisure and sports equipment such as electric trains, gaming consoles and treadmills.
- IT and telecommunications equipment such as laptops, PCs, printers, telephones and calculators.
- Consumer equipment such as radios, televisions and musical instruments.
- Automatic dispensers such as coffee machines and money dispensers.
- Monitoring and control equipment such as smoke detectors, fire alarms, thermostats and heating regulators.
- Medical devices such as dialysis machines, medical freezers and cardiology equipment.
Since all of these items are deemed to be too dangerous to dispose of within a landfill site like other waste, they must be disposed of separately. WEEE waste typically contains a large combination of materials and includes toxic materials such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury which prove detrimental to the environment when they leak into and contaminate the soil and surrounding areas. Reducing the amount of WEEE waste that ends up in landfills is key to nurturing the environment.
Due to this legal responsibility to divert WEEE waste from landfills, you should consider hiring waste collection and management professionals. RecycleZone’s WEEE waste recycling service is the best way to ensure that your waste is disposed of responsibly and in line with the law.
RecycleZone’s WEEE Waste Recycling Service
At Recyclezone, we are specialist experts in managing WEEE waste, with a highly trained team that will collect, store and dispose of all WEEE waste in the most sensible, ethical and professional way possible. We can also offer you trusted advice on the materials contained within your WEEE waste, their hazardous properties and how to safely store your waste until collection.
No matter how big or small your WEEE waste is, we offer flexible and fast collection, with same day availability and free quotes. WEEE waste need not be a worry for you – we personally clear, pack and remove all waste, leaving you to relax.
We pledge to ensure that all waste is disposed of in the most appropriate and eco-friendly locations, with WEEE waste recycled quickly and efficiently to protect our planet.
Contact our friendly team today who will be happy to answer your questions and arrange a WEEE waste collection or other recycling services.
FAQs about WEEE Waste
What does WEEE stand for?
WEEE stands for ‘Waste electrical and electronic equipment’ and it is used to describe electrical equipment that is no longer required and it includes all equipment powered by either electricity or a battery and all components used to make these products.
Who is responsible for disposing of WEEE Waste?
In a domestic setting, we are all responsible for properly disposing of WEEE waste in order to look after our environment. For example, if you are looking to get rid of an old microwave, you are expected to take it to your local community recycling centre – not put it in your black bin. Alternatively, you should contact a trusted WEEE waste recycling service which will provide you with complete peace of mind that your electrical waste is managed ethically and legally.
In accordance with the WEEE waste directive, every business (including those online) that sell electronic or electrical equipment to consumers must first give customers a simple and easy means of disposing of their old WEEE waste before selling new equipment to them. This is usually in the form of a free take-back service. For example, according to the government, businesses must offer to take back a customer’s old kettle when they invest in a new one. Further details on this scheme can be found here.
Do charity shops accept electrical goods?
So long as your electrical items are still in working order, clean and have the necessary labels, some national and local charities, such as our partnering charity and the British Heart Foundation do accept electrical items. However, some are reluctant to do so since certain checks might be required before they are resold. It is worth enquiring before donating.
Can you put electrical goods in a skip?
No, you can not put electrical items into a skip. Due to strict waste regulations, you can not put electrical items in a skip. Instead, you are required to arrange appropriate collection or re-use for electrical goods. Although hazardous items such as electrical goods can not be disposed of within a skip, many waste disposal companies like Recyclezone still organise approved and accredited collections for you.
Do you accept refrigerators?
Some companies are reluctant to remove large appliances such as white goods like fridges due to the chemicals contained and the size. At RecycleZone we accept refrigerators and other white goods as part of our WEEE collection and disposal service. All white goods are correctly stored, collected and disposed of in accordance with regulations.
Do I need to reset / wipe my electricals before collection?
Yes please. Part of our ethical disposal promise at RecycleZone is that we dispose of all waste in the most ethical and eco-friendly way possible. Sometimes, this means re-using your electricals so that their journey can continue. We request that all electrical items are wiped of personal data and settings before collection to protect both your data and ensure items can be recycled and reused effectively.
Do you offer office clearances?
Absolutely. At RecycleZone we offer both small and large WEEE clearances for both domestic clients and commercial ones. Please enquire with our friendly team about the amount of WEEE waste involved in your job so that we can arrange the most suitable and flexible collection for you.
Are your WEEE waste removal services available throughout the UK?
Yes. We offer waste disposal services throughout the UK, with our fully trusted and vetted team collecting WEEE waste from every corner of the country.
What happens to WEEE Waste?
Once your WEEE waste has been collected, it is then taken to a specialist reprocessing plant where your items are shredded into small pieces ready to be recycled. After they have been shredded, very strong magnets are used to remove certain metals meanwhile electronic currents are used to remove all non-metallic elements. Any plastic is also separated and categorised ready to be recycled. All of these components will be ready to be recycled and reused for a new life.