The Update Note on the Disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Background The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations came into force across the UK on 5 January 2007. This legislation introduced new responsibilities for University departments that own electrical and electronic equipment and requires that from 1 July 2007 they ensure that WEEE is treated by an approved supplier in an environmentally-sound manner. Whether the department or the original producer of the equipment pays for this depends on the circumstances. University departments dispose of a wide range of electrical and electronic equipment, some of it highly specialized. The full range of mechanisms by which business users, such as University departments, will be able to do this will not be clear until the legislation has had time to bed in. The purpose of this note is to alert departments to the legislative requirements and to set out current disposal options. The University will be taking steps to identify disposal routes and associated aspects of legal compliance beyond those described here. In the meantime, if you require guidance beyond the information supplied below you should contact the Energy & Sustainability Office. Equipment to which the legislation applies The legislation applies to a wide range of equipment including: 1. Large household appliances (e.g. freezers, refrigerators, microwaves) 2. Small household appliances (e.g. vacuum cleaners, toasters, clocks) 3. IT and telecommunications equipment (e.g. mainframes, printers, PCs, telephones, laptops) 4. Consumer equipment (e.g. radios, TVs, HI-FIs, musical instruments) 5. Lighting equipment (e.g. luminaries, CFLs, straight fluorescents, light bulbs) 6. Electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools) (e.g. drills, saws, nail-guns, welders, electric lawn mowers) 7. Toys, leisure and sports equipment (e.g. sports equipment, video games) 8. Medical devices (with the exception of all implanted and infected products) (e.g. dialysis, cardiology, radiotherapy equipment) 9. Monitoring and control instruments (e.g. smoke detectors, thermostats, scales, control panels) 10. Automatic dispensers (e.g. all appliances which automatically dispense a produce coffee, tea, money ) A full list of the products in each category is provided in Appendix 1. Identifying WEEE, the producer and its date of marketing From 1 April 2007 all electrical and electronic equipment that will be subject to the WEEE Regulations must be marked with: the symbol shown in Appendix 2 (the crossed out wheeled bin symbol). Where possible this marking will be affixed to the equipment. In cases where this is not possible (e.g. the small size of the equipment) the symbol will be shown on the packaging, the instructions for use and also on the accompanying warranty. Guidance Note on WEEE 2007 v1 1 Feb 2007 (updated July 2008)
an identification mark that allows the producer to be easily identified. a date mark that allows it to be identified as being put on the market after 13 August 2005. The exact format of this mark is not yet known. Funding the disposal of WEEE comprising products that were put on the market on or after 13 August 2005 The producer (generally the manufacturer or importer) of relevant electrical and electronic equipment that was put on the market after 13 August 2005 is responsible for financing the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of equipment that they have supplied to the University when this equipment becomes waste. Funding the disposal of WEEE comprising products that were put on the market before 13 August 2005 ( historic WEEE ) Responsibility for financing the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of equipment that was put on the market before 13 August 2005 (often called historic WEEE ) depends on whether the University is also purchasing an equivalent product as a replacement. If an equivalent replacement product is being purchased the producer of the equipment that is to become waste is responsible for financing the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of equipment. If an equivalent replacement is not being purchased then the end user of the equipment (the department, research group etc) is responsible for financing its collection, treatment, recovery and disposal. General arrangements for disposing of WEEE Under no circumstances should waste electrical or electronic equipment that is subject to the WEEE Regulations be disposed through the normal waste stream. It should not be put into bins with general waste or disposed as part of mixed loads in skips. In addition, departments should be aware that certain equipment, such as fridges, computer monitors and televisions, contain materials that make them hazardous to health or to the environment. In these cases the WEEE would also be classified as Special Waste. Information on classifying waste and on identifying special waste is available on ESO web site. <<>>> Disposal of WEEE comprising products that were put on the market on or after 13 August 2005 The producer (manufacturer or importer) of the equipment should be contacted and arrangements made to have the equipment taken to an authorized treatment facility. The end user of the equipment should not be required to pay for this service. Some equipment that was purchased after 13 August 2005 but before 1 April 2007 may not carry a date mark (as described above). It is likely that the producer of this equipment will require the end user to provide some evidence of the purchase date of the equipment that is to be disposed prior to agreeing to fund its disposal. Departments are currently required to keep an asset record that records all equipment valued at over 25,000. However, as has been recommended in the Policy on Reuse & Recycling of Computers and other Electronic Equipment, a system that documents the purchase details of all electrical and electronic equipment should now be maintained by all purchasing Schools. Guidance Note on WEEE 2007 v1 2 Feb 2007 (updated July 2008)
Disposal of WEEE comprising products that were put on the market before 13 August 2005 and a purchase of replacement equipment is being made. The producer (manufacturer or importer) of the equipment should be contacted and arrangements made to have the equipment taken to an authorized treatment facility. It may be that the supplier of the new equipment will be able to facilitate this process. The end user of the equipment should not be required to pay for this service. Disposal of WEEE comprising products that were put on the market before 13 August 2005 when no purchase of replacement equipment is being made. The end user department must make arrangements and finance the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of equipment. Equipment must be disposed through an authorised treatment facility. The University has already clarified disposal routes for some types of equipment that fall within the WEEE regulations and information can be obtained by following the links shown below: Fridges, Freezers, washing machines, etc: http://www.eso.ed.ac.uk/waste/whattodowithit/index.shtm#fridges%20&%20freezers Computing and IT equipment: http://www.eso.ed.ac.uk/waste/whattodowithit/index.shtm#it%20equipment Lamps for general lighting (not including lamps from scientific equipment etc): http://www.eso.ed.ac.uk/waste/whattodowithit/index.shtm#fluorescenttubes Other equipment: Contact Estates Waste Management on ext 51 6482 or email Waste@ed.ac.uk. Duty of Care Departments should already be aware of their duty of care for the safe storage and disposal of waste. This duty of care also extends to electrical and electronic waste. The 'Duty of Care' can be summarised as follows: You must prevent the illegal deposit, disposal or treatment of any waste that you have produced. You must prevent waste from escaping from your control (leaking, blowing away, being stolen etc). You must ensure that you transfer waste only to authorised persons. You must ensure that any waste, which you transfer to another person, is accompanied by a written description. This description must be sufficient to allow others to appreciate the nature of the waste so that they can avoid committing an offence when they are managing it. Further guidance on duty of care is available on the ESO website (http://www.eso.ed.ac.uk/waste). Guidance Note on WEEE 2007 v1 3 Feb 2007 (updated July 2008)
Appendix 1 Categories of electrical and electronic equipment covered by these Regulations 1. Large household appliances 2. Small household appliances 3. IT and telecommunications equipment 4. Consumer equipment 5. Lighting equipment 6. Electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools) 7. Toys, leisure and sports equipment 8. Medical devices (with the exception of all implanted and infected products) 9. Monitoring and control instruments 10. Automatic dispensers List of products which fall within the above categories 1. Large household appliances Large cooling appliances Refrigerators Freezers Other large appliances used for refrigeration, conservation and storage of food Washing machines Clothes dryers Dish washing machines Cooking Electric stoves Electric hot plates Microwaves Other large appliances used for cooking and other processing of food Electric heating appliances Electric radiators Other large appliances for heating rooms, beds, seating furniture Electric fans Air conditioner appliances Other fanning, exhaust ventilation and conditioning equipment 2. Small household appliances Vacuum cleaners Carpet sweepers Other appliances for cleaning Appliances used for sewing, knitting, weaving and other processing for textiles Irons and other appliances for ironing, mangling and other care of clothing Toasters Fryers Grinders, coffee machines and equipment for opening or sealing containers or packages Electric knives Guidance Note on WEEE 2007 v1 4 Feb 2007 (updated July 2008)
Appliances for hair-cutting, hair drying, tooth brushing, shaving, massage and other body care appliances Clocks, watches and equipment for the purpose of measuring, indicating or registering time Scales 3. IT and telecommunications equipment Centralised data processing: Mainframes Minicomputers Printer units Personal computing: Personal computers (CPU, mouse, screen and keyboard included) Laptop computers (CPU, mouse, screen and keyboard included) Notebook computers Notepad computers Printers Copying equipment Electrical and electronic typewriters Pocket and desk calculators Other products and equipment for the collection, storage, processing, presentation or communication of information by electronic means User terminals and systems Facsimile Telex Telephones Pay telephones Cordless telephones Cellular telephones Answering systems Other products or equipment of transmitting sound, images or other information by telecommunications 4. Consumer equipment Radio sets Television sets Videocameras Video recorders Hi-fi recorders Audio amplifiers Musical instruments Other products or equipment for the purpose of recording or reproducing sound or images, including signals or other technologies for the distribution of sound and image than by telecommunications 5. Lighting equipment Luminaires for fluorescent lamps with the exception of luminaires in households Straight fluorescent lamps Compact fluorescent lamps High intensity discharge lamps, including pressure sodium lamps and metal halide lamps Low pressure sodium lamps Guidance Note on WEEE 2007 v1 5 Feb 2007 (updated July 2008)
Other lighting or equipment for the purpose of spreading or controlling light with the exception of filament bulbs 6. Electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools) Drills Saws Sewing machines Equipment for turning, milling, sanding, grinding, sawing, cutting, shearing, drilling, making holes, punching, folding, bending or similar processing of wood, metal and other materials Tools for riveting, nailing or screwing or removing rivets, nails, screws or similar uses Tools for welding, soldering or similar use Equipment for spraying, spreading, dispersing or other treatment of liquid or gaseous substances by other means Tools for mowing or other gardening activities 7. Toys, leisure and sports equipment Electric trains or car racing sets Hand-held video game consoles Video games Computers for biking, diving, running and rowing Sports equipment with electric or electronic components Coin slot machines 8. Medical devices (with the exception of all implanted and infected products) Radiotherapy equipment Cardiology Dialysis Pulmonary ventilators Nuclear medicine Laboratory equipment for in-vitro diagnosis Analysers Freezers Fertilization tests Other appliances for detecting, preventing, monitoring, treating, alleviating illness, injury or disability 9. Monitoring and control instruments Smoke detector Heating regulators Thermostats Measuring, weighing or adjusting appliances for household or laboratory equipment Other monitoring and control instruments used in industrial installations (for example, in control panels) 10. Automatic dispensers Automatic dispensers for hot drinks Automatic dispensers for hot or cold bottles or cans Automatic dispensers for solid products Automatic dispensers for money All appliances which deliver automatically all kind of products Guidance Note on WEEE 2007 v1 6 Feb 2007 (updated July 2008)
Appendix 2 Crossed out wheeled bin symbol to be displayed on electrical and electronic equipment from 1 April 2007. Guidance Note on WEEE 2007 v1 7 Feb 2007 (updated July 2008)