Is Your Business Obligated Under WEEE Compliance?

In line with the governments' drive for an eco-friendly economy and to remain in line with the regulations of the EC directive on the disposal of Electrical and Electronic Equipment all businesses have to adhere to WEEE (waste of electrical and electronic equipment) recycling standards by law. However the government initiated the facilitation of compliance schemes to support businesses with their responsibilities.

The WEEE compliance regulations apply to all organizations and businesses regardless of size, that either sell or manufacture EEE. These products are simply defined as ones which either would ordinarily require a battery or a plug to fulfill their primary function. Both producers and manufacturers of household and non-household commodities may find themselves having to follow WEEE recycling guidelines. This article will be focused on businesses that produce household appliances.

WEEE regulations: Household appliances

If you are producing, manufacturing or selling EEE goods the question you need to be asking yourself is do the products fall into any one of the 13 categories laid out by the directive? It should be noted that only products with a voltage rating not exceeding 1000v AC and 1500v DC is included in the WEEE compliance directive.

• Small household appliances such as irons, toasters, vacuum cleaners

• Large household appliances for instance freezers, cookers, microwaves, washing machines

• Consumer equipment for example radios, hi-fi, TVs, video recorders, musical instruments

• Lighting equipment such as fluorescent tubes, sodium lamps

• IT and telecoms equipment such as PCs, printers, copiers, phones, fax machines

• Toys, leisure and sports equipment for example electric trains, running machines

• Electrical electronic tools for instance drills, saws, sewing machines, electric lawnmower

• Medical services for instance analysers, radiotherapy equipment, dialysis

• Monitoring and control equipment for instance smoke detectors, thermostats, scales

• Automatic dispensers such as hot drinks dispensers, dispensers for money

• Cooling equipment such as refrigeration equipment

• Display equipment such as TVs and monitors

• Gas discharge lamps