The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) was introduced in January 2007. The WEEE Directive aims to reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment being produced and to encourage everyone to reuse, recycle and recover it.
The UK produces over a million tonnes of WEEE each year from domestic and commercial sources.
Everyone should be aware that under the WEEE Directive it is illegal to dispose of waste electrical and electronic equipment to landfill.
The WEEE Directive affects producers, distributors and recyclers of electrical and electronic equipment and encompasses everything from electronic games, calculators, toasters and kettles to audio equipment, fridges, washing machines, commercial and industrial equipment. When put into landfill, WEEE relinquishes its toxins and pollutes the environment. The EU introduced a directive aimed at reducing WEEE, encouraging reuse, recovery of its base materials and reducing the environmental impact of disposal. The WEEE Directive has passed into law in all member states.