WEEE Recycling

WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) waste is discarded commercial and household electrical equipment. The UK produces around two million tonnes of WEEE each year from both business and homes. Over 40 per cent of WEEE by volume is made up of large household appliances like fridges and washing machines, but it also includes computers, TVs, electric tools, toys and medical devices.

• Adhoc collections
• Compliant service
• ADR trained drivers & ADR compliant fleet
• Secure site
• Nationwide service

What is WEEE Recycling?

Electrical recycling is a specialist matter. This has become some of the materials and components commonly appearing in WEEE are hazardous. They can include arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, and other toxins or hazardous chemicals can be released by improper handling or disposal (such as broken fluorescent tube lights releasing mercury) and potentially high voltages in capacitors and other components, even in equipment that has been powered down for a long time. There are also matters of data security, with computers, servers, hard drives and similar components needing to be destroyed effectively and with full traceability and compliance.

The aim of the WEEE Directive is to reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment being produced and to increase WEEE recycling. Furthermore, the directive states that all sensitive information and computers must be disposed of in a secure manner.

Novus Environmental offers the following compliant, flexible and expert services to properly handle and dispose of WEEE.

What Does WEEE Stand For?

WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. This is also commonly referred to as e-Waste. If an item or product takes power from a plug or battery, it almost certainly counts as WEEE when time comes for disposal. There are ten broad categories of WEEE, including large and small household appliances, IT equipment, consumer electronics, lighting (including fluorescent tubes and LED lamps, but not incandescent bulbs), toys (ranging from games consoles to model trains), sports equipment, smoke detectors and drinks dispensers.

All of these types of items fall under the WEEE directive for proper, safe and responsible disposal.

How to Comply with WEEE Regulations

Proper handling and disposal of WEEE is the responsibility of the ‘producer’ of the product – not the end user. This can be manufacturing the EEE in the UK, importing it, re-branding it after manufacture and selling to end users from outside the UK.

These producers must register with an environmental regulator and large producers must join a producer compliance scheme (PCS) to finance the collection, treatment and disposal of WEEE. Items must be properly marked and labelled (with the standard crossed-out wheelie bin symbol) to prompt end users not to dispose of them in general waste. Quantities and categories of EEE sold or brought into the market must be regularly reported.

Where Can I Recycle Electrical Goods?

For end users, WEEE should be disposed of via a Designated Collection Facility (DCF) – these are usually incorporated into recycling or disposal centres run by local authorities, which have special designated areas for end users to drop off their WEEE. Large-scale end-users can arrange for dedicated regular or ad hoc collection of WEEE – this is one of the services offered by Novus Environmental.

The key principles for compliant handling, recycling and disposal of WEEE are:

Waste Segregation

Due to the complex mix of product types and materials that WEEE waste consists of, segregation can pose various health risks that require appropriate management and handling before recycling.

WEEE Directive Compliant Service

At Novus Environmental we offer WEEE Directive compliant collection, disposal and recycling services. This includes the collection of fridges, freezers, fluorescent tubes, IT equipment, medical devices and other electronic goods. We will provide you with a Waste Transfer Note or Consignment Note at the time of collection.

Secure Site

To ensure the security of our sites we vet all staff and make them subject to disclosure and regular driving licence checks. Staff are onsite 24 hours a day to provide secure the site. In addition, barriers and gated entrances provide extra security.

What Next?

To find out how Novus Environmental can help your company email us or use the enquiry form at the top of the page.