Businesses affected by the WEEE Regulations

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations affect almost all businesses. You need to make sure that you understand your obligations and what you must do to meet them.

What you must do

You must comply with the WEEE Regulations if you:

  • manufacture, import or rebrand electrical or electronic equipment (EEE)
  • distribute or sell EEE
  • generate any WEEE
  • refurbish or repair WEEE
  • treat, recycle or recover WEEE.

Producing EEE

You are a producer if you:

  • manufacture and sell EEE under your own brand
  • resell EEE products produced by another supplier under your own brand (rebranding)
  • import or export EEE into the UK or another European Union member state on a professional basis.

The regulations apply to all producers regardless of their size.

For information on producer responsibilities, see the page in this guideline: Producers of electrical and electronic equipment – what you must do

Distributing EEE

You are a distributor if you sell EEE for use in households. This includes selling products via:

  • retail outlets
  • wholesale outlets
  • mail order
  • the internet
  • TV shopping channels
  • other distance-selling methods.

For information on distributor responsibilities, see the page in this guideline: Distributors of electrical and electronic equipment – what you must do

Using EEE

If your business uses EEE you must deal with it correctly once you no longer need it. See the page in this guideline: Users of electrical and electronic equipment - what you must do

Refurbishing WEEE

If your business repairs or refurbishes WEEE you may need a pollution prevention and control (PPC) permit, waste management licence or an exemption. See the page in this guideline: Repairing, refurbishing and storing WEEE.

Treating and recycling WEEE

If your business treats, reprocesses, recovers or recycles WEEE you must have a PPC permit, waste management licence or an exemption. See the page in this guideline: Treating and recycling WEEE.

Exporting WEEE

If you export WEEE for reuse, treatment or reprocessing you must comply with export controls. See the page in this guideline: Exporting WEEE.

Operating a producer compliance scheme (PCS)

PCS operators arrange for their members' WEEE to be collected and treated, recycled or reused. If you operate a PCS you must meet certain requirements. See the page in this guideline: Operating a WEEE producer compliance scheme

Further information

You can use the NetRegs e-learning tools to get a good overview of key issues. These tools are free to use and cover the essential points of each topic. They might be useful as a refresher course, or to make sure that staff have a good understanding of their environmental responsibilities. There are over 30 e-learning courses available, including:

  • Preventing pollution – a general guide
  • Duty of care
  • Sinks, drains and sewers
  • WEEE
  • Generating renewable energy

All are available at: NetRegs: e-learning tools

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