WEEE waste is end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment and covers everything with a plug or battery. It is classed as either household or non-household WEEE. WEEE waste recycling aims to reduce the amount of electronic equipment waste that is sent to landfill, improve recovery and recycling rates.
Since 2002, a government directive came in to force and in 2003, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive and the RoHS Directive became European Law.
Many organisations have responsibilities to the WEEE directive to ensure the items which they create, sell or handle are disposed of safely and responsibly. There are many WEEE waste recycling/collection services that help you comply with this directive by collecting and recycling your WEEE, helping you develop your environmental disposal strategy and support your Corporate and Social Responsibility.
WEEE waste recycling/collection services offered by London City Waste Clearance:
- Compliance schemes support
- Returns management services – for handling complex electronics equipment returns for OEM’s and distributers
- Large WEEE collections – our vast logistics mean we can collect your WEEE items from a range of locations
- Small WEEE collections – arrange a small WEEE collection
- WEEE disposal centres – visit a WEEE disposal centre near you
- Eco-days and events – we host events to support your CSR objectives
- Hazardous WEEE recycling – our processes ensures that harmful substances are removed safely
- European and global services – offering a global, regional or local service
Within the Regulations There are ten broad categories of WEEE currently outlined, which are:
- Large household appliances – fridges, cookers, microwaves, washing machines and dishwashers
- Small household appliances – vacuum cleaners, irons, toasters and clocks
- IT and telecommunications equipment – personal computers, copying equipment, telephones and pocket calculators
- Consumer equipment – radios, televisions, hi-fi equipment, camcorders ad musical instruments
- Lighting equipment – straight and compact fluorescent tubes and high intensity discharge lamps
- Electrical and electronic tools – drills, saws and sewing machines, electric lawnmowers
- Toys, leisure and sports equipment – electric rains, games consoles and running machines
- Medical devices (un-infected) – dialysis machines, analysers, medical freezers and cardiology equipment
- Monitoring and control equipment – smoke detectors, thermostats and heating regulators
- Automatic dispensers – hot drinks dispensers and money dispensers
As a result of this complex mix of product types and materials, some of which are hazardous, WEEE recycling poses a number of health risks that need to be adequately managed. The exact treatment of WEEE can vary enormously according to the category of WEEE and technology that is used.