WEEE Regulations

Introduction to WEEE 

Waste electrical goods range from hairdryers to washing machines and make up the fastest growing waste stream in the UK.

In one year the amount of electrical waste we create in the UK would fill the new Wembley 6 times!

This is a lot of electrical waste! So to reduce the amount of electrical items going to landfill the government has introduced some new regulations called

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations.

As part of the regulations, many retailers have made a financial contribution to increase and improve the number of recycling locations for electrical goods.

Why should we recycle waste electrical goods?Why should we recycle waste electrical goods?

The amount of electrical waste we throw away is increasing by around 5% each year, making it the fastest growing waste stream in the UK.

Each year in the UK we go throw away over 1.2 million tonnes of electrical and electronic waste. That is the equivalent of 150 thousand double decker buses!

This increase is mainly down to:

• new technologies being developed
• affluent society
• throw away lifestyle

Over 75% of waste electrical goods end up in landfill, where lead and other toxins contained in the electrical goods can cause soil and water contamination.

This can have a very harmful effect on natural habitat, wildlife and also human health. When situated near populated areas these toxins can cause problems to communities as their water and soil is polluted.

Many of the electrical items that we throw away can be repaired or recycled. Recycling items helps to save natural finite resources and also reduces the environmental and health risks associated with sending waste electrical goods to landfill.

To minimise our impact on this earth and to protect the environment for future generations it is important that we are all aware of the consequences of our actions and how we can make a difference.

The Crossed out Wheelie Bin symbol Electrical and Electronic Equipment that was made after 13 August 2005 should display this symbol on the packaging or product. Either send the product to be repaired and reused or use the bank locator to find where it can be recycled.

Electrical recycling facts 

• Electrical goods are the fastest growing waste stream in the UK, growing by 5% each year
• In the UK the amount of electrical waste we create in one year would fill the new Wembley 6 times!
• Each year in the UK we go through over 1.2 million tonnes of electrical waste. That is the equivalent of 150 thousand double decker buses!
• 75% of waste electronics end up in landfill sites
• In the lifetime of 1 UK citizen 3.3 tonnes of waste electronics is created! (weeeman.org)
• Two million TV sets are discarded every year - most end up in landfill sites (Recycle Now)
• "Over six million electrical items are thrown away every year in the UK. It is estimated that over half of them are still working or could easily be repaired." (ITDG, 2003)
• 15 million mobile phones are upgraded in the UK each year, laid from end-to-end they would reach from John O'Groats to Lands End! (https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/)

As a retailer of EEE (Electronic and Electrical Equipment) Waudby's now operate a take-back policy on like for like electrical goods.  Upon receiving the goods back Waudby's will then arrange the recycling of these products.  We do not charge for the recycling of the products but may charge a fee for the transportation costs between the customer and Waudby's.

Recycling Your Batteries

Should you no longer require your leisure battery please feel free to drop it in to our store. Waste leisure batteries are classed as a hazardous waste product and require undergoing an extensive clean-up process before they can be disposed of safely. Upon receiving the waste batteries, arrangements can be made by us with the supplier to collect and recycle the batteries ensuring a clean and safe disposal process. If you have any further questions please contact us via email: info@waudbys.co.uk or call us on 01430 422523.