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What is the WEEE
directive?
WEEE stands for Waste
from Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
It is an EU directive aimed to reduce the
impact of electronic waste on the environment.
At least 1 million tonnes of electronic waste
from homes and businesses is discarded every
year, a figure that is estimated to be growing
by 4% annually. The WEEE legislation means
that electrical and electronic equipment can
no longer be sent to landfill sites, and must
be recycled instead.
What
items are affected?
All electrical items
are affected such as:
- IT and telecommunication
equipment (e.g. computers, photocopiers,
telephones)
- Consumer equipment
(e.g. televisions, video recorders,
hi-fi equipment)
- Lighting equipment
(e.g. fluorescent lamps, discharge
lamps)
- Medical equipment
systems (e.g. radiotherapy equipment,
ventilators)
- Monitoring and
control equipment (e.g. thermostats,
control panels)
- Automatic dispensers
(e.g. drinks machines)
- Large household
appliances (e.g. fridges, washing
machine)
- Small household
appliances (e.g. vacuum cleaners,
toasters, irons)
- Electrical and
electronic tools (e.g. drills, sewing
machines)
- Toys, leisure
and sports equipment (e.g. video games
and consoles).
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Who does it apply
to?
The law applies to everyone
who uses electronic equipment, whether it’s
at home or at work. It also places legal requirements
on manufacturers and retailers of electrical
goods.
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