How do the regulations affect you?
WEEE compliance
Designated collection facilities (DCF) run by local authorities must adhere to a strict Code of Practice for the handling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) to maximise reuse and recycling. It governs the minimum requirements that must be met in an arrangement between DCFs and producer compliance schemes (PCS). The code applies to operators of approved DCFs, and following it is a condition of DCF approval.
As a DCF operator, you must aim to maximise separate collection of WEEE, provide sufficient capacity to collect the five waste streams listed below and manage the WEEE as waste.
Suitable and appropriate information and signage must be provided to the public. If you have a relationship with a PCS, they will finance the cost of clearance and treatment of WEEE collected from your DCF. You must grant free access to your PCS to collect WEEE you have on site – unless you have approval from Defra to retain specific streams.
Where you are unable to secure a contract with a PCS for the collection and treatment of WEEE collected at your DCF Regulation 34 of the WEEE Regulations allows you to contact any PCS operator to request a free of charge service. To submit such a request, access our form here.
DCFs must also take steps to prevent mixing of WEEE with non-WEEE waste and minimise the risk of contamination for separately collected WEEE. WEEE streams can be contaminated in a variety of different ways. For example, cooling equipment can be contaminated with food, display equipment with cardboard and many different streams with plastic bags.
As a local authority operating a designated collection facility (DCF), you must also work with your producer compliance scheme (PCS) to prioritise the separate collection of suitable appliances for treatment for reuse.
DCF and PCS must take measures to ensure items go to legitimate reuse organisations able to:
- Provide information on their downstream processes
- Meet all relevant legal requirements
- Test appliances
- Carry out or arrange refurbishment
- Guarantee that reuse does happen
- Produce evidence of reuse
To contact an approved authorised treatment facility for collection or remove any WEEE from your site, you must first get approval from your PCS.
The five WEEE collection streams are:
- Large household appliances
- Cooling equipment
- Display equipment (plus photovoltaic panels)
- Lamps
- All other WEEE (small mixed WEEE)
For large household appliances and cooling equipment, you must provide space for containers or an impermeable surface for collection. For cooling equipment, display equipment and lamps, DCFs must have space for containers of a suitable type and size.
The full code of practice for the collection of WEEE from DCFs can be accessed and downloaded from the gov.uk website.
Batteries compliance
Local authorities do not have obligations under the Batteries Regulations. However, waste batteries are collected at many Household Waste Recycling Centre sites (HWRCs), and you can deliver any waste batteries you collect into a collection network set up by a PCS for free of charge treatment.
Alternatively, you must ensure that waste batteries you collect go to an approved battery treatment operator (ABTO) or an approved battery exporter (ABE) for treatment and recycling.
If you’d like to work with REPIC to arrange collection and treatment of batteries from your HWRC, get in touch via the enquiry form.
Packaging compliance
While local authorities are involved in the management of packaging waste as part of normal waste operations, they do not have obligations under the Packaging Regulations.
If you have PRNs to sell, please get in touch via the enquiry form
