Waste Management: Electrical and Electronics
Welcome back to the third and final instalment of Waste Wednesday! This last post will cover Waste management of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS). Directives aim to reduce the quantity of waste from such outlets and increase its re-use, recovery and recycling. The RoHS directive aims to limit the environmental impact of electrical and electronic equipment when it reached the end of its life. This is made possible by minimising the hazardous substances of legislation controlling hazardous substances across the community.
Are you an electrical retailer or distributor?
If the answer is yes, here is a basic list of your 
responsibilities when it comes to electrical waste:
1. You must provide a way for customers to dispose of their household electronic equipment when you sell them a new version of the same item. This rule applies regardless of how you sell the product i.e. via internet, mail or telephone. This service includes either:
a) a free in store, take back service
b) set up an alternative take back service
Please note: If you don’t have your own take back service you must join the Distributor Takeback Scheme (DTS).
2. Make it clear to customers which waste management service you provide
You must provide customers with free written information about:
a) which take back service you offer
b) how they can either reuse or recycle electrical equipment
c) why electronic waste is to be separated from other waste
d) how damaging none recycling of electrical waste is
e) the meaning of the crossed out wheelie bin symbol
If you are a store you can provide this information via posters, leaflets etc and if you are an online retailer this information must be published on your website.
3. To dispose of the waste you have collected via the take back schemes, you must do one of the following:
a) Dispose of Waste – Contact a producer compliance scheme who will arrange for the waste to be collected where it is then taken to an Approved Authorised Treatment Facility (AATF). You may be charged for the collection and transportation of the waste.
b) D.I.Y – You can transport the waste to an AATF yourself. For this you will need a waste carrier licence and may need to follow the rules on transporting hazardous waste.
c) Keep Records – All electrical and electronic goods that you have collected and disposed of must be recorded, including number of units you have received through the take back and how many were returned to a PCS. It is essential to keep proof and records of the way you inform your customers of the take back service you offer. Keep all of your records for a minimum of 4 years.
If you are a small business and providing your own take back service isn’t feasible, there are other alternatives. You can set up a DCF – ‘designated collection facility’ – where customers can take their electrical and electronic waste. You could do this by yourselves or join forces with other retailers/ distributors.
The second option is to join the DTS – ‘distributor take back scheme’ – where you pay a fee that covers all your waste obligations until at least January 2017. The fee will be calculated by how much equipment you sell. This money will then be used to support the recycling centres ran by local authorities. If you are a part of the DTS you don’t have to take back, store or dispose of any goods. As with the other options, you will need to keep a record of all the information you give to your customers in regards to this matter.
Useful Links:
If you require indepth information about the topics we have discussed in this post please see below:
https://www.gov.uk/electricalwaste-producer-supplier-responsibilities/take-back-waste-in-store
https://www.gov.uk/waste-legislation-and-regulations