Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

The UK currently produces around 1 million tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) each year and it is suggested that this figure may double over the next 15 years. WEEE is one of the fastest growing waste streams and is increasing at a rate three times that of average municipal waste growth. The increase in disposal of WEEE relates to a number of factors including the general increase in use of electronic and electrical equipment, the frequent upgrading of equipment and, in some cases, the relatively high cost of repair compared to the purchase of new equipment.

The European Commission has identified a number of environmental concerns which arise from the production and disposal of electronic and electrical equipment (EEE). First, it is believed that the environmental impact of producing electrical and electronic equipment is often greater than that used to produce other constituents of the municipal waste stream. Secondly, the increasing volumes and varied nature of WEEE is difficult to dispose of. Most is discarded in landfill sites but many of these sites have limited space available in the long term. Finally, WEEE contains significant amounts of heavy metals and halogenated substances which, once disposed of through landfill or incineration, may present hazards to public health and the environment.

The disposal of WEEE also represents the loss of large amounts of valuable resources, in particular metals and plastics. If these were to be recycled it would not only divert the waste from disposal but would also reduce the need to use virgin raw materials.

In order to address these problems, the EC has introduced two Directives; The Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the Directive on Restriction on the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (ROHS).

Historical information

Review of WEEE implementation in the UK.

In December 2005, BERR (formerly DTI) announced that the Energy Minister had instigated an immediate review of proposals for implementing the WEEE directive in the UK. The review was followed by a full consultation exercise in the Spring of 2006.

Previous Consultation and Further Information

The UK Government (including the Scottish Executive) undertook three separate public consultations as part of the implementation process for these two Directives.

The first was a discussion paper in spring of 2003 in which the government invited comments on the options for implementation. A second consultation was carried out in winter of 2003 – 2004 with the third and final consultation on draft regulations and draft guidance in July - October 2004.

NOTICE - SEPA Enforcement Position in Relation to Independent Auditor’s Reports (18 December 2008)

SEPA’s Enforcement Position document can be found here  (499k).