FAQs
What rules apply to local businesses looking to dispose of their B2B waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) via your DCF?
If the business disposing of WEEE is not buying new equipment and purchased the old equipment before 13 August 2005, they are obligated to dispose of the WEEE. If purchasing replacement equipment, we recommend the business contact their equipment retailer, who may either accept it for disposal or be able to take away the old unit for refurbishment and reuse.
What are the rules regarding the removal of cables from WEEE for health and safety reasons?
The WEEE Code of Practice stipulates that only complete appliances must be presented at an approved authorised treatment facility (AATF). This means site operators must not remove anything from WEEE appliances. However, site risk assessments may highlight the risk of slips or trips due to loose cables on WEEE. In this case, cables may be removed but must be kept and sent to the treatment facility with the rest of the appliance.
Can WEEE be compacted or tamped down in skips?
Full compaction of WEEE is not permitted. However, skips may be pressed (tamped down) to minimise the environmental impact of low weight container fills requiring more road miles. Environmental regulators will permit skips being tamped down where the WEEE is pressured to fill void spaces but not broken, split, punctured or squashed. The tamping must not hinder the full and proper WEEE treatment later in the process.
What are the waste flow data reporting deadlines for local authorities?
The WEEE Code of Practice stipulates that waste data flow information should be provided to the site operators each month. REPIC provides data to operators by the 10th working day of the month.
Can we take advantage of reuse opportunities for WEEE?
REPIC has always been supportive of WEEE reuse where it can be done with high levels of transparency and community benefit. In operational terms, this normally requires access to designated collection facilities (DCF) by the site operator or REPIC-approved reuse operator to select items considered viable for reuse.
This movement of WEEE needs to be logged in DCF records by all parties. The reuse facility is required to demonstrate testing and commit to high levels of quality assurance. Once the items have passed the testing and quality assurance process, evidence notes can be raised to demonstrate compliance with the WEEE regulations for both REPIC and the local authority.
If your authority partners with any local reuse community groups, we are happy to work with you to jointly assess their capabilities to meet the requirements of the WEEE regulations.
What dangers are associated with gas bottles present in WEEE?
Gas bottles pose a serious hazard if they arise at WEEE treatment operations, and can cause an explosion if not identified and separated. It is important that local authority sites take steps to ensure gas bottles are kept out of WEEE containers to prevent serious harm at WEEE treatment facilities.
Are mobility scooters classed as WEEE?
Mobility scooters do not fall under the WEEE regulations and are instead covered by end-of-life vehicle (ELV) regulations. However, while mobility scooters are a consumer item, we would not expect them to come from a household. As such the disposal is typically from a business/charity which would have its own arrangements for disposal.
