Local Authorities

The UK WEEE Regulations do not place collection and disposal obligations on Local Authorities, although it is widely accepted that most household WEEE is likely to be collected via the UK's network of civic amenity sites.  Therefore Local Authorities have the opportunity to voluntarily sign up their civic amenity sites as Designated Collection Facilities (DCFs). If they do, they will have to comply with the Code of Practice for DCFs, which requires minimum levels of separate storage of WEEE at the sites.

The Code of Practice for collection of WEEE from DCFs can be accessed here.

In return, they will receive some funding from the Distributor Takeback Scheme (a national collection service that operates as an alternative to in-store takeback) and their WEEE will be removed by Producer Compliance Schemes for onward treatment, recycling and disposal without charge.  Local Authorities that volunteer their sites will no longer be financially responsible for treating or disposing of WEEE deposited at their sites.

Some DCFs may need a modification to their Waste Management Licence and provide new WEEE containers or signage or make alterations to their sites. The money from the Distributor Takeback Scheme will help meet some of these costs.  Local Authorities will also be able to count the recycling of WEEE towards meeting their recycling targets under the Area Waste Strategies in force in the various parts of the UK.

A list of registered Local Authority and commercial DCF sites can be accessed here.

For further information please refer to chapter 7 of the WEEE Government Guidance document.

The forms required for the necessary data reporting can be found on our Forms page.