What are the WEEE regulations?
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (WEEE) came into effect on the 13th August 2005. These regulations implement the provisions of the European Parliament and Council Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (2002/96/EC).
The aim of the regulations is to encourage the reuse, recycling and recovery of electrical and electronic equipment. The focus on the electrical and electronic equipment sector is a direct result of the faster growth rate of this form of waste and its disproportionate negative impact on the environment, caused by the hazardous elements within the equipment. It is estimated that the effective management of this type of waste could avoid landfill capacity of between 133,000 and 339,000 tonnes per year.
The Directive obliges the UK to maintain a register of producers putting electrical and electronic goods on to the market, and the amount of these goods both in terms of weight and quantity.
The regulations define electrical and electronic equipment as being ‘equipment which is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work properly and equipment for the generation, transfer and measurements of such currents and fields…., and designed for use with a voltage rating not exceeding 1000 volts for alternating current and 1500 volts for direct current’.
The items of interest to the electrical contractor include household appliances, consumer equipment, monitoring and control equipment, smoke detectors, power tools and lighting. There are some exemptions such as filament light bulbs, and household luminaires which attach directly to a wall, ceiling or lamp stand. Luminaires used in commercial premises are covered by the regulations.
The main responsibilities under the regulations are placed on producers of equipment and distributors to offer take-back schemes to recover items for recycling.
Advice from the Environment Agency indicates that no additional responsibilities will be placed on electrical contractors other than to ensure that this equipment is treated as hazardous waste and recycled appropriately. It is anticipated that take-back schemes developed by producers in conjunction with local authorities will be in place by early 2006.
JPD with NQA offer a one-day course on the WEEE Regulations called ‘Producer Responsibility’ for more information visit our website www.jpd.co.uk (or click on the link on the right hand side of this page), or alternatively contact one of our Training Advisors on 0870 438 2573.