What is the WEEE Directive?
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive is an EU initiative to protect the environment by reducing the amount of electrical equipment – including PCs, servers, printers and laptops – dumped in skips and going into landfill. The WEEE Directive requires each EU country to introduce new laws to meet targets for the collection, recycling and recovery of electrical equipment.
The law entered into force on 2 January 2007, and the major
requirements under the law came into place on 1st July 2007.
What is WEEE?
There are ten categories of Waste, Electrical and Electronic
Equipment. They are:
1. Large household appliances
2. Small household appliances
3. IT and telecommunications equipment
4. Consumer equipment
5. Lighting equipment
6. Electrical and electronic tools
7. Toys, leisure and sports equipment
8. Medical devices
9. Monitoring and control equipment
10. Automatic dispensers.
The WEEE Regulations apply to electrical and electronic
equipment (EEE) in the above categories with a voltage of up
to 1000 volts AC or up to 1500 volts DC.
WStore distribute equipment which falls into category 3 & 4 of the
above list.
WEEE products are also categorised depending on
when they were placed onto the market.
Products placed onto the market before 13 August
2005 are called ‘historic’.
Products placed onto the market after 13 August 2005
are called ‘future’.
Equipment produced after August 2005 is recognisable by
the 'wheelie bin' logo on the product
The appearance of this logo means that the manufacturer
will arrange the safe disposal of the product at the end of
its life.
Business Users
As a business user of IT equipment you will be legally responsible for the collection, treatment and recovery of all PCs purchased before the
13th August 2005, UNLESS you are buying new PCs to replace old ones on a like-for-like basis.
If you are replacing old business PCs with new equipment, the
producer of the product is required by the new law to take
responsibility for the costs of the treatment and
environmentally-friendly disposal of any equipment being
replaced on a like-for-like basis.
Where you are disposing of redundant IT equipment not covered by the above (i.e. not being replaced by new equipment) you will be responsible for reporting evidence to show that they have been disposed of in accordance with the new law.
The WEEE directive places the obligation on EU-based
manufacturers or importers to take-back electronic products at the
end of their useful life. Since WStore does not manufacture,
distribute or import goods into the EU, we are not considered a
'Producer' under the directive and therefore we are not an approved
registrant. WStore is working in partnership with the major
manufacturers to ensure that adequate information is provided to our
business customers. We have advised non-compliant manufacturers that
we will cease to carry their products.
Data Security: Ensure you destroy any personal data left on
those machines – just formatting the drive may not be enough –
consider professional data wiping software that makes recovery
impossible, or obtain a quote from WStore
If the PCs are above a certain specification you may be able to donate them to charity, demonstrating corporate social responsibility. WStore donates computers to Computer Aid for reuse in developing countries.
In all instances, WStore will be happy to advise on the best
course of action, and provide a customised quotation for disposal of
any equipment.
Click here for the Manufacturer Directory,
which includes information on the manufacturer schemes in place, and
who to contact to arrange the take back of your equipment
Information for Consumers
WStore is a member of the distributor take back scheme operated
by Valpak. We do not provide a service for private households to
return product to us for recycling. Instead, we have contributed,
along with other online retailers, to the improvement of the UK's
network of WEEE collection facilities. These facilities are
predominantly based at Local Authority Civic Amenity Sites. For more
information, we have contributed to the establishment of a UK wide
WEEE recycling website located at
www.recycle-more.co.uk.
Please note that the WEEE Regulations do not give you an entitlement
to free collection of your WEEE from your home.
The WStore registration ID under the take back scheme is 3919,
and is valid until 31st December 2009
Click here for additional information about the WEEE Directive
from the DTI |
